Surname Kleie - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kleie: What does the surname Kleie mean?
The last name Kleie is of German origin. It is derived from a German nickname or occupational name and is a variation of "Kleiner," which means "little" in German. It is believed that the name was used by someone whose stature was on the smaller side. As a surname, Kleie is traditionally associated with a range of professions, such as a tailor, weaver, or tailor's assistant. The Kleie surname may also be linked to the idea of being an apprentice in one of these occupations.
The use of the name Kleie in Germany dates back to at least the 16th century and has expanded to the majority of European countries. Today, it is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States. It is believed that the name is a particularly popular surname in Southern Germany.
In terms of the meaning behind the name Kleie, the name can represent various ideas, such as loyalty and humility. Loyalty is suggested due to the tradition of having Kleie someone with a particular occupation in the family or community. Humility is also suggested as the name implies someone who may be small in stature but has a big heart and ambition.
Overall, the last name Kleie is a variation of a German nickname or occupational name that represents loyalty and humility. It is an ancient name, having been used in Germany since at least the 16th century, and has since grown to become popular in various countries around Europe and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisKleie: Where does the name Kleie come from?
The surname Kleie is primarily found in Germany today, with other smaller concentrations in Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, France, Poland, Belgium, and the United States. It is believed to be of German origin, derived from the German word “klei” which means clay.
The name Kleie is relatively uncommon throughout the world. However, it is most common in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony where it is recorded as being the 512th and 1,575th most common surname, respectively. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the highest concentrations of people with the surname Kleie are in the state's capital of Düsseldorf, as well as the cities of Essen, Krefeld, and Dortmund. In Lower Saxony, the cities of Hanover, Brunswick, and Oldenburg have the highest concentrations of Kleie families. The states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Baden-Württemberg make up the bulk of the total population of Germany with Kleie as a surname.
In the United States, the Kleie surname is not particularly common. The largest concentration is found in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Illinois has the highest number of people listed with the last name, while Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey have the second and third largest populations, respectively.
In addition to Germany, there are smaller populations of the Kleie surname in other countries such as Netherlands, France, Austria, Poland, and Belgium. In all these countries, the concentration of people with this surname is generally very low.
Variations of the surname Kleie
Kleie is a German surname of various origins and spellings, the most common being Kley, Klei, Kleie, Klay, Kleye, Klee, Klaei, Klewe, Klie, Kleyi, Kleyh, Kleen, Klaai, Klauss, Klaes, Klaß, Klaus, and Kläy.
The common Kley, Klei, and Kleie variants of the surname originated from the word 'klie', an archaic form of 'klei', which is the Dutch word for clay. It is thought that the surname originated in the regions of the German Rhineland, Westphalia and Hessia in the Middle Ages, and was a reference to an occupation such as potter or bricklayer.
The variants Klay, Kleye, Klee, and Kleyi emerged in the 16th century from the dialectical alteration of ‘klaie’ and ‘kleie’.
The variants Klaei, Klewe, Klie, and Kleyh derive from the Middle High German word ‘Kraege’ meaning ‘claw’ and were likely used to distinguish members of a family or group from one another.
The variants Klaai, Klauss, Klaes, Klaß, Klaus, and Kläy originated from the Germanified form of the Latin word ‘Nicolaus’ meaning ‘victory of the people’ and were likely given to members of the family to demonstrate their piety and commitment to their faith.
All of these variants, spellings, and surnames are variants are usually interchangeable and still used throughout Germany and the rest of the world today.
Famous people with the name Kleie
- Matt Kleie: American professional bull rider and model.
- Oliva Kleie: American fashion and costume designer.
- Adriana Kleie: Fashion, beauty and lifestyle content creator, founder of AJK & Co.
- Ulrike Kleie: a German sprinter.
- Sabrina Kleie: an Italian film actress.
- Matthias Kleie: a German swimmer.
- Lily Kleie: a British tennis player.
- Clemens Kleie: a German para taekwondo athlete and two-time Paralympic gold medalist.
- Carl Kleie: a German politician.
- Katharina Kleie: a German conductor and organist.