Surname Clages - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Clages: What does the surname Clages mean?
The surname Clages is of German and Dutch origin. The name refers to someone who lived near or originated from a village called “Clage”, which is documented in the German administrative district of Monchengladbach. The meaning of the name Clage originates from the Middle High German phrase “Kalch” which translates to “place” or “town”.
Historically, records have shown that the surname Clages was quite popular with the ancestors living in the Western Europe during the Middle Ages. Generally, the name was used in Germany and the Low Countries(Northern France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) .
Clages is a patronymic surname which means that it is derived from the given name of the person’s father. It is also an occupation-based surname which means that it was derived from the occupation of the person’s ancestor. In this case, it came from a person who lived in or near Clage.
The variations of the last name Clages include Kleck, Klages, Klaga, Clagi, and Klage. These variations are evident in records that span most of the European continent.
Today, there is a strong presence of the surname Clages in countries such as Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, and parts of the United States. Families bearing this last name are likely to have Germanic ancestral roots.
Order DNA origin analysisClages: Where does the name Clages come from?
The last name Clages is most commonly found in Germany today. Clages is a German surname which originated in Westphalia — a region in the Northwest of Germany. It is also found in other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands.
The Clages surname is derived from the Old German word "klaggis" which was used to refer to a loud or chattering person, or someone who spoke excessively and uncontrollably. Over time, the last name evolved through multiple spelling variations, including Chlages, Klages, Cleges, Kleinclages, Klaeges, and Clages.
The earliest record of the Clages name dates back to the 17th century during the German reformation when it was found in churches in Westphalia. It has since spread to other regions of Germany, with an estimated 17,000 people bearing the Clages name in Germany alone.
Given its origin and the prevalence of Clages in Germany today, it is likely that the Clages surname began in the Northwest and spread eastward from there. It is possible that the Clages surname can be traced back even further in time by exploring its multiple spelling variations.
Variations of the surname Clages
The surname Clages is believed to have originated from Germany. The variant spellings of this surname include Claes, Klaus, Klaes, Klages, Klaase, Claase, Claasen, Clase, Claessen, Claessen, Klassin, Klausen and Clasen.
The Clages surname is believed to be an alternate form of the German word "Klar," meaning "clear" or "light." As such, some people with the Clages surname may have taken their name from their profession—such as a lighting merchant—or because of a personal or familial description—such as they were "light of hair."
The family name Claes is believed to be a shortened form of the Clages name. It has been found in various Germanic countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark. In the Netherlands, it was later altered to Clases in the 16th century and then the more common spelling of Claes in the 17th century.
The surnames Klaus, Klaes and Klaase could have originated from people living in the southern German regions of Switzerland and Austria who adopted the German form of the name.
The surname Klages is believed to have originated in Germany, where it was derived from the German word for “timber.”
Another variant of the Clages surname is Claasen, which is a Dutch surname. This version of the name was acquired by Germanic families who migrated to the Netherlands in the 17th century.
Finally, Clasen is another variant spelling of the Clages surname. This version is believed to have been derived from the German word "klasse," meaning "class," and was adopted by German families in northern Germany during the 18th century.
Famous people with the name Clages
- Alex Clages: German footballer for Bayern Munich
- Alison Clages: American actor
- Claus Clages: German baritone singer and opera director
- Jochen Clages: German actor
- Justin Clages: French artist
- Luc Clages: Former Olympian handball player
- Michael Clages: German screenwriter
- Steffen Clages: German surnames researcher
- Ursula Clages: German composer
- Wolfgang Clages: German comedian