Surname Klokkers - Meaning and Origin
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Klokkers: What does the surname Klokkers mean?
Klokkers is an occupational surname most likely derived from the Dutch word "klokken," which translates to "bells" in English. This would suggest that the original bearer of this surname was either a bell-ringer or someone who maintained or manufactured bells, such as a bell-maker or bell-founder. The surname is primarily found in the Dutch region of the Netherlands, particularly in the provinces of Noord-Brabant, Zuid-Holland, and Utrecht.
Historically, bells served many purposes that were important to life in a medieval rural village, alerting people to fires, special events, or even telling the time. Bell-ringers were consequently highly valued and skilled figures of the community. In the 17th century, the Dutch province of Utrecht alone had an estimated 270 bell-ringers.
Today, the Klokkers surname is still quite common in the Netherlands. The name may also be present in other parts of Europe, particularly in countries where Dutch immigrants and their descendants settled, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. Interestingly, there are some variations to the spelling of the name, such as Klokman and Klokkerman, which may have derives from its Middle Dutch roots.
Order DNA origin analysisKlokkers: Where does the name Klokkers come from?
The last name Klokkers is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Germany today. The Netherlands, a country known for its spectacular tulips and windmills, is home to more than half of the people with the last name Klokkers.
Klokkers is a relatively uncommon name, but there is evidence of it being around before the 1600s. It is believed that the name originated from a Germanic word, "Klocker" which is translated to mean "bell ringer." This could be a reference to the job of a church bell ringer. It's also possible that the name began as a reference to a place or area with a lot of bells.
Klokkers is often used as a given name as well, indicating that the word is used to name persons in both the Netherlands and Germany. It is likely to be found in Dutch and German records throughout the centuries, with a particularly high frequency in the 1500s.
Klokkers is not a particularly common surname today, but it can still be found in areas where Dutch and German immigrants settled during the 17th and 18th centuries. Communities in the United States, Canada, and South America are likely to have people with this last name in their ancestry.
Variations of the surname Klokkers
The surname Klokkers is a Dutch topographic name for someone who lived near a bell tower or clock tower. It is also derived from the Dutch word "klokken," which means "to chime." Variants, spelling relatives, and surnames of the same origin for Klokkers include Klokker, Klokkert, Klockers, Clocker, Clokker, Clookeer, Cloecker, Klok, and Klocker.
Klokker is the most common spelling variant, and is found in records from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Klocker is a dialectal variation of this spelling, found in Germany. Similarly, Klok and Klokkert are also found in Germany, and are Dialectal forms of Klokker. Clocker and Clokker are also German spellings, and are found in the numerous records from the Netherlands and Germany. Clookeer and Cloecker are less common spellings, found in records from both the Netherlands and Germany.
The surname Klokkers is quite old, and has been recorded since the 14th century. The earliest known mention of the name is in the Jacob van Arteveldt family tree from 1319, and is found spelled as 'Klokkenier,' or chime keeper. It appears in many records from the 17th century onwards, always spelled in varying ways; however, the oldest forms of the name are Klokker and Klokkert. This suggests that the latter forms were first used in the Netherlands and spread to other areas like Germany and England in later years.
Famous people with the name Klokkers
- Johan Klokkers: Dutch Youth Olympics sailing athlete and entrepreneur
- Melvin Klokkers: Dutch composer and reality television star
- Michiel Klokkers: Dutch artist and designer
- Elgar Klokkers: Dutch architect andВ illustrator
- Danielle Klokkers: Dutch entrepreneur
- Eugenius Klokkers: Dutch artist and illustrator
- Lena Klokkers: Dutch fashion designer
- Michel Klokkers: Dutch landscape artist
- Dean Klokkers: Dutch music producer
- Chris Klokkers: Dutch football player