Surname Kleeff - Meaning and Origin
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Kleeff: What does the surname Kleeff mean?
Kleeff is a surname of German or Dutch origin. The name is derived from a location name, and is believed to have been first used in northern Germany or the Netherlands in the 12th Century. It is derived from the Old German term “kleves” which means “cliff” or “ledge.” As such, people with this last name likely came from a place near a cliff or ledge.
The spelling of the name has changed slightly over time, including variations such as Klee, Kleef and Kleefe. Today there are many people with any of these spellings living in countries all around the world. In Germany, the name is said to be very rare, while in the Netherlands, it is more commonly found.
Kleeff is an old, meaningful family name, and those who share this name can be proud to be part of a centuries-old line. It offers a glimpse into the family’s past and is a reminder of their journey and background.
Order DNA origin analysisKleeff: Where does the name Kleeff come from?
The last name Kleeff is most common today in Germany, where the surname originates from. It is believed the surname Kleeff was first found in Bavaria, a state in southern Germany.
Within Germany, the highest concentration of the Kleeff surname is in the state of Lower Saxony. In fact, it ranks 369th out of all 1,143 popular German last names. The Kleeff surname can also be found in parts of Austria and Switzerland.
Outside Germany, the surname Kleeff can be found in the United States and in some parts of Canada where German immigrants settled, as well as in countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile where German settlers and immigrants have also made their home.
The United States has the highest concentration of Kleeffs in the world. In the 1910 US census, the surname had already been established in Missouri, Minnesota, and Wisconsin but had spread to other states by 2019.
Interestingly, the Kleeff DNA Project has discovered that there are possible descendants in parts of Central America and South America who go by another surname but likely share the same German Kleeff ancestry.
Overall, the Kleeff surname is most prevalent in Germany, where it originated, and has spread to other parts of the world along with German immigrants.
Variations of the surname Kleeff
There are many variations and spellings of the surname Kleeff. These include: Kleef, Klief, Kleif, Kleefs, Kleffe, Kleeves, Kleefman, Kleefmann, Klefmann, Kliefman, Cloef, Kloef, Kleeff, Kloof, Kleiff, Kleefe, Kleiv, Kleeve, Kleeven, Kliefs, Klef, Kleep, Kleefa, Kleefse, Kleevee, Kleefe, Kleeff, Kloefman, Kleff, Kloepfer, Klaef, Klaeff, Kleefa, Kleemon, Kleeman, Klaeff, Kleemand, Kleevenbach, Kleeveschen, Kleffman, Kalef, Kaleef, and Kallef.
Kleeff is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname, derived from the German words 'klief' and 'kloefe' meaning 'shoemaker'. It is found amongst Jewish communities of Eastern and Central Europe. Over time, variants of the name came to be adopted in some non-Jewish populations.
The Kleef spelling is particularly common amongst Jewish people in the Netherlands and Belgium. Similarly, the Kleefe variant of the name is often found in German-speaking regions, while in England, the name is usually spelled Kleeve. In the United States, the name is mostly spelled Kleeff, Kleff or Kleefs.
Many of those with the surname Kleeff are descended from the same family. However, there is no single origin for the name Kleeff, as variations of it can be found, or was adopted by, populations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.
Famous people with the name Kleeff
- Ronald Kleeff: German entrepreneur and former CEO of the Otto Group.
- Norbert Kleeff: German businessman and founder of the NordPark group.
- Grete Kleeff: German journalist and author.
- Herbert Kleeff: German conductor and composer.
- Franz Willek Kleeff: German-American theologian and missionary.
- Ferdinand Kleeff: German civil servant and politician.
- Hanns Kleeff: German mathematician and professor.
- Karl Lucien Kleeff: German entomologist and zoologist.
- Paul Kleeff: German architect.
- August Kleeff: German painter and sculptor.