Surname Kleisen - Meaning and Origin
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Kleisen: What does the surname Kleisen mean?
The last name Kleisen is German in origin, and would have originally referred to someone who hailed from the region of Kleis (or, Cleis). This area is now part of Germany and lies to the northeast of Cologne, close to the border with the Netherlands. The name itself likely refers to the area’s rugged terrain and is derived from the ancient German word “kleis”, which means “rock”.
Today, people with the last name Kleisen could be descended from those who lived in Kleis, or from families that moved into the region from other areas of Germany or adjacent countries. It’s also possible that some of the bearers of the name may have descended from Jewish immigrants in Central Europe.
In Bavaria and Austria, some of the bearers of the name may be descended from Huguenot migrants who arrived in the region after being exiled from France in the 1500 and 1600s. In Palatinate, a region formerly part of Bavaria, some of the bearers of the name may have descended from French Protestants who moved to the region when it was opened up during the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th century.
The Kleisen surname is also known to be found in some families in the United States, as well as in other parts of Europe, and likely originated from these same sources.
Order DNA origin analysisKleisen: Where does the name Kleisen come from?
The last name Kleisen is most commonly found in Germany. The name originates from the Middle High German words "Kleider," which means clothes, and "Sen" which means to cut. Thus, the name can be translated to mean "cutter of clothes" and is likely a reference to the occupation of the first person in the family to bear the name. Based on the geographical distribution of the current known Kleisen families, the main origins of the last name are in Lower Bavaria in the south of Germany.
In modern times, a search on genealogy websites reveals that the most commonly found locations of this last name are still in Germany, as well as in several countries with strong ties to German immigration such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, and South America.
The name is also found in some countries of Europe, such as Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, however, the frequency of the name is much lower outside of Germany. It is also possible to find a few families of Kleisen in other parts of the world, such as South Africa and India, due to emigration from Germany during past centuries.
In conclusion, the last name Kleisen is primarily concentrated in Germany and countries of German colonisation and emigration, however, it is possible to find a few scattered families in different countries throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Kleisen
Kleisen is a German surname that has multiple variants, spellings and other surnames of the same origin. It is also used in Sweden, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe.
The most common variants of Kleisen are Kleyßen, Kleißen, Kleis and Kleysen. The Dutch variant is Kleuser. It is also spelled as Kleyssen, Kleysen, Kleysser, Kliesen, Klejsen, Kließen and Klieser.
The surnames of the same origin as Kleisen are Klaissen, Klaßen, Klässen, Klaassen, Klaussen, Klessen, Klaes, Kless, Klasen, Klös, Kloss, Klossen, Klaas, Klauß, Klous, and Kluss.
Kleisen is primarily an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word “klisen” meaning to divide or cut. It is thought to have been used to describe someone in the profession of a woodcarver or to refer to someone who was a maker of doors.
Kleisen is likely derived from the Middle High German “clisen” meaning “to separate” or “to split”. It’s also possible that Kleisen has its roots in the Medieval German word “klizan” meaning “to chunk” or “to chop.”
The differences in the spelling of the Kleisen surname are likely due to regional dialects and the different spellings that were used at the time.
Famous people with the name Kleisen
- Michelle Kleisen, a American singer-songwriter.
- Curtis Kleisen, an American professional golfer.
- Dieter Kleisen, a German writer and TV producer.
- Richard Kleisen, an American professional basketball player.
- Monika Kleisen, a German actress.
- William Kleisen, an American lawyer and politician.
- Johann Kleisen, a German painter.
- Kristin Kleisen, a former American beauty pageant contestant.
- Daniel Kleisen, an Austrian alpine skier.
- Simona Kleisen, an American figure skater.
- Yannik Kleisen, a German football player.
- Judith Kleisen, a German intelligence officer.
- Alexander Kleisen, an Austrian director and producer.
- Helmut Kleisen, a German political scientist and military historian.
- Carl Kleisen, an American botanist and plant ecologist.
- Carl Kleisen, a Milwaukee artist who specialized in painting birds.
- Peter Kleisen, a German classical philologist.
- Anthony Kleisen, an American theater artist.
- John Kleisen, a former Dutch politician.
- Lars Kleisen, a Danish graphic designer and illustrator.