Surname Klehs - Meaning and Origin

Klehs: What does the surname Klehs mean?

The last name Klehs can be found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is derived from the German word "Klichs", which means a stick, staff, or pole. This was likely given to someone who used a stick or pole often, such as a shepherd, woodsman, or hunter.

The earliest known reference to the name dates back to 1373 in the form of "Willem de Klehs". This is the earliest known record of someone using this surname in Germany. Following this, the name is most often found in the German-speaking regions of Austria and Switzerland.

The Klehs surname is considered to be a patronymic, meaning it is derived from the given name of one's father. This was a common naming practice in Middle Ages Germanic cultures. It is likely you will find multiple branches of the same family with similar, but distinct,ulationspelling variantsof the Klehs name, such as Klies or Kles.

Additionally, the surname Klehs is often seen as a variant of the name Klich, and is likely derived from the same root word. As such, people bearing the Klehs surname may be related to other people with the names Klich, Klies, and Kles.

The last name Klehs has been found in the areas of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for centuries, and likely has its roots in a common practice of Northeastern Europe's past. It is a patronymic surname, derived from the given name of one's father, and thus has many spelling variants.

Klehs: Where does the name Klehs come from?

The last name Klehs is primarily found in Germany today. It is believed to have originated from the Middle High German word klaf, which means a type of shoe. It is likely that Klehs was derived from a nickname for a cobbler or a shoe maker. Additionally, it could have been a habitational name, which would mean it was derived from a place name. In this case, it may have come from a place called Klehe in what is today Lower Saxony.

The surname Klehs is quite rare today, with less than 200 people in the entire world having the name in 2019. However, it does appear most commonly in Germany, although it is also found in a few other countries, such as the United States and Canada. In the United States, it is primarily found in Wisconsin and Illinois, although there have been some records of the name in other states in recent years as well.

In Germany, Klehs is found primarily in the central and western parts of the country. It is especially common in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Bavaria. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf have the most people with this surname. It is also found in a few other countries around the world, including the Czech Republic, France, and Argentina.

Overall, the last name Klehs is primarily found in Germany today, although it has also been recorded in other countries as well. While it is quite rare, with only around 200 people having this name in 2019, it is still common enough that you may have neighbors or classmates with the surname.

Variations of the surname Klehs

The surname Klehs is a German-language or Jewish surname. It has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variants include Klaes, Klaß, Klaesch, Klaasch, Klesch, Kles, Klesch, Klass, Kläs, and Kläß, and spellings such as Kluß, Kloas, Klooß, Klöß, and Klöss.

The origin of the surname Klehs can be traced to the Middle Habsburg and German region. It originates from the language spoken by the Jews who lived in this region which was Germanized. An alternative etymology suggests that it could be derived from the Hebrew name “Kalman” meaning “faithful vessel” or “turtle dove”.

In Germany, this surname has been found mainly in Bavaria, where it is most common. Variant spelling Klaes is more common in Hamburg and northern Germany. In the United States, this surname is found mostly in Pennsylvania, although it may be found in other states as well.

Klehs is also found as a surname in England, Scotland, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Other surnames of the same origin include Klesh, Kleish, Kleinschmidt, Kloos, Klooster, Kloosterman, and Klock.

In some instances, the surname Klehs may have been Americanized to Cless, Cles, or Clouse. It can also be found as Claas, Claess, Claes, and Claeß. These variant spellings can sometimes be found in historical records.

Famous people with the name Klehs

• Dr. Robert Klehs, Jr.: an American Industrial Psychologist and university professor.
• Richard Klehs: a guitarist and songwriter, best known for his work with the bands REO Speedwagon and Survivor.
• Ryan Klehs: an American actor who has had several appearances in television shows as well as a few feature films.
• William Klehs: an American pitcher who played Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1910s.
• David Klehs: an American Paralympian and businessman who has competed in three Paralympic Games.
• Sarah Klehs: an American former professional basketball and softball player.
• Karin Klehs: an American former Paralympic swimmer.
• Hans Klehs: an American former NBA basketball player who played from 1980 to 1985.
• Eric Klehs: a New Zealand broadcast journalist.
• Barry Klehs: the keyboardist and one of the founding members of the Grammy-nominated band War.

Other surnames

KlehKleheKlehmannKlehn