Surname Clooß - Meaning and Origin
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Clooß: What does the surname Clooß mean?
The last name Clooß is a German surname that originated in the region of Schleswig-Holstein in Northern Germany. The literal meaning of the name is “Cloister” or “Monastery” denoting an ancestor's occupational role. It is believed to have evolved from the Middle High German phrase "clozzen", which means It was likely first used by ancient monks, which eventually morphed into "Clooß" in the modern German language.
The Clooß surname likely first appeared in use among members of the ruling nobility during the Middle Ages, denoting those individuals' service to local nobles. Over time, it was adopted by a wide variety of German families, and from there it spread throughout Europe. One notable early bearer of the name was Dr. Johann Cloos, a German prelate and scholar whose efforts at advancing education and science earned him the title of “Venerable Cloos” during his lifetime.
The name Clooß is still in use today, mostly in mainland Europe, as well as parts of the United Kingdom. It is sometimes spelled with a double-S, and can be found in a variety of orthographies. It is a unique name that continues to be passed down in families from generation to generation, a tangible reminder of each individual's ancestral heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisClooß: Where does the name Clooß come from?
The last name Clooß is most common in Germany and in the surrounding countries. According to recent studies, it is particularly widespread in the northeastern part of the German-speaking world and is recorded in some parts of Poland and the Czech Republic. Clooß is also a common last name in Denmark.
In terms of its etymology, the name Clooß most likely originated as a pet form of the first name Clauss - a variant of the name Nikolaus or Nicholas. The patronymic suffix -oß was then added to form the modern form of the name Clooß.
Today, this name is mainly found in rural areas in northeast Germany and neighboring countries. Most of the people who bear the name Clooß live in Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, and Saxony-Anhalt in Germany.
The name Clooß is not particularly common outside of Germany and the surrounding countries, though it has been found in records in other European countries. In the United States, the name is relatively rare, though it can be seen among German immigrants who settled in the mid-19th century or later.
Variations of the surname Clooß
The surname Clooß is a Germanic and Dutch patronymic surname derived from the personal name Claas, a popular Dutch given name originating from the Old German given name Nicolaus, which is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Nichal meaning “victory of the people.” It is also an aptronymic surname, given to a son/grandson etc., of someone named Claas.
The variants, spellings and surnames of Clooß are Claus, Klas, Klaas, Kloss, Klause, Klausel, Kessler, Keßler, Cles, Kles, Klis, Kloß, Closs, Closse, and Kloosen, all derived from the Clooß surname.
The variants of Clooß, which have changed over time with the influence of other languages and cultures, can be found in many countries around the world. In the Dutch language, the spelling ‘Kloos’ or ‘Klooster’ are quite common, as with ‘Klootz’ in the Frisian language. The Austrian spelling ‘Klaus’ is also common, as with the Netherlands’ spelling ‘Klaas.’ The German speaking countries use the spelling ‘Klose,’ ‘Kloß’ or ‘Kloss’ and ‘Klause’ can be found in Switzerland and other parts of Europe. In the United States of America, the spelling ‘Cloos’ is most commonly found. Generally, the Clooß, Claus, Klas, Klaas, Klose, Closs, Closse, Cloos, Kloosen, Klootz, Kles, Klis, and Keßler surnames can be considered to be related to the Clooß surname in origin, as can the aptly named Kessler, Keßler and Cles surnames.
Famous people with the name Clooß
- Thomas Cloos: German actor, screenwriter, and director
- Max Cloos: German football player
- Johannes Cloos: German sculptor
- Johannes Cloos Jr.: German sculptor
- Jan Cloos: Dutch cartoonist
- Helmut Cloos: German businessman
- Margarethe Cloos: German actress
- Johann Cloos: 19th century German historian
- Clara Schumann-Cloos: wife of German composer Robert Schumann
- Theo Cloos: German doctor and inventor of the Velvet Cellosin massage device