Surname Clees - Meaning and Origin
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Clees: What does the surname Clees mean?
The last name Clees is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is thought to be derived from a personal name associated with the Old English "claes", meaning "clay, or clod". It is likely that it was used as a nickname for a person who was associated with clay in some way, or who lived near a clay pit.
Many generations later, the Clees name has been carried down for centuries and is now found in many countries around the world. Clees can be spelt differently, depending on the region and the family's origin. Variations of the name may include Cleas, Cleeves, and Clewes.
The Clees surname has been linked with many different types of people and occupations, ranging from farmers and merchants to blacksmiths and printers. In more recent times, it has been used as a surname given to the descendants of immigrants from Germany, Scotland, and Ireland.
The Clees surname is an interesting one, with a murky history that often traces back to the days of Anglo-Saxon tribes. Despite being found in many different countries, the surname still remains quite rare, and those who do have it are likely the descendants of people whose ancestors were skilled crafters and merchants.
Order DNA origin analysisClees: Where does the name Clees come from?
The origins of the last name Clees is unclear. Some hypothesize it to be of Bavarian or Dutch descent, while others point to it as being related to the French, with language roots in the areas around the Rhineland. The last name Clees is mostly found in the United States, where it is particularly common in the states of Virginia and West Virginia.
The highest concentration of the name is found in the town of Frenchburg, West Virginia. This small rural town had a population of just shy of 400 in the 2010 census, but yet it was here that the name Clees counted for 1.05% of the population.
In addition, the name is also found scattered across the United States, particularly in the south and midwestern regions. While the overall percentage of the population with the name cleared is small, in some states such as Virginia, the surname Clees ranks among the top 2000 most popular surnames.
It’s not known for sure why the name is particularly common in some parts of the United States, although it is thought that it could have to do with how many Dutch settlers arrived in the 17th century and settled in Virginia and West Virginia.
Overall, the last name Clees appears to have a moderate presence in the United States, albeit limited in geographical region. Despite the uncertainty of its origin, one thing is sure –Clees is here to stay.
Variations of the surname Clees
The surname Clees has several different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Clees, Klees, Klee, Cleese, Klise, Klies, Kleiss, Kler, Kylis, Claes, Claesen, Claeys, and Kleesen.
Clees is a German and Dutch patronymic surname, which derives from the personal name Clees, or Klaus. The personal name Clees was an abbreviation for the given name Nicholas, from the ancient Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victor of the people". It is believed that the name Clees, and its variants, may have been brought to the Netherlands and Germany by returning crusaders during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
The earlier form of the surname Clees in Germany was usually spelt Klise or Klies, and in Holland as Klees. The spelling of the surname was later simplified as it became assimilated into the language and cultures of Germany and Holland. For example, in Holland the variants of Clees such as Kleesen, Klee, and Kleiss were frequently used, while in Germany the variants of Klise and Klies were more commonly used.
In addition to the variants already mentioned, there are several other spellings of the surname which have emerged over the centuries. These include Cleese, Claes, Claesen, Claeys, and Kylis. The spelling of the surname has changed over the years due to the influence of the language and culture of the countries in which it is found.
The surname Clees is still quite common in the Netherlands and Germany today. It has started to spread to other countries more recently, especially America. This is due to emigration from these countries in search of a better life. The variants of Clees may still be found in other countries where immigrants have settled and brought their customs and surnames with them.
Famous people with the name Clees
- Dominic Cleese: Dominic Cleese is an English actor and comedian who is best known for being part of the Monty Python comedy group.
- Richard Cleese: Richard Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer and film director. He was a member of Monty Python, a face of comedy in the 20th century, and is credited with many film and television projects.
- Camille Cleese: Camille Cleese is an American actress, model and comedian. She is the daughter of John Cleese and actress Connie Booth. She has appeared in numerous television roles, including Wild 'N Out and recurred on the series Angie Tribeca as Jenny Jenkins.
- Sir George Clees: Sir George Clees was a British diplomat who held many high posts during the 19th century, including ambassador in various countries including the United States and Russia.
- Yvonne Clees: Yvonne Clees is an Australian singer and songwriter. She first achieved success in the early 1990s as a vocalist and has continued to perform in many local festivals and concerts, as well as internationally.
- Bill Clees: Bill Clees is an American baseball player and manager who coached numerous teams, most notably the Chicago Cubs from 1979 to 1981.
- Madame de Clees: Madame de Clees was a French noblewoman and celebrated beauty who was in the court of Louis XIV. She was known for her stylishness and wit and became a popular figure in the French court.