Surname Kleeman - Meaning and Origin
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Kleeman: What does the surname Kleeman mean?
The last name Kleeman derives from the German word 'kleemann', which is a variant of the medieval given name "Klemen". Although the exact meaning of the name is not known, the root, 'kleem-', appears to be related to the modern German verb 'kleinmachen', which means 'to make small'. This suggests that the name likely had an origin meaning similar to 'small man' or 'little man'.
Kleemann is mainly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Historically, it was used as a nickname to refer to someone who was small in stature, mild in nature, or endearing in character. The name was sometimes also used as an occupational surname, with the surname referring to someone who was a small-scale merchant or dealer.
Kleeman is also a common spelling of the name in the United States. This spelling was more likely used by individuals of Dutch, rather than German, descent and may have been the result of Dutchization efforts. In the Dutch language, 'kleemann' was phonetically rendered as 'kleeman'.
Overall, the last name Kleeman is a variation of the German given name 'Klemen'. The root of the name indicates that it likely had an origin meaning similar to 'small man' or 'little man'. The name also had occupational connotations, being used to refer to someone who was a small-scale merchant or dealer. A Dutch variant of the name is also prevalent in the United States, with this spelling likely being the result of Dutchization efforts.
Order DNA origin analysisKleeman: Where does the name Kleeman come from?
The last name Kleeman is originates from the German language and is most commonly seen in the countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word kleeman, which means "craftsman."
Immigration from these countries since the 1800s has spread the name throughout the world, with the United States alone having more than 700 people with the Kleeman surname. In the United States, the name is most common in Wisconsin, California, and New York.
Outside of the United States, the name is widely seen in countries throughout Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In Germany, it is the 397th most common name, with approximately 8,000 people having the surname. In Austria, it is the 525th most common name, and in Switzerland, it is the 437th.
In the Netherlands, the name Kleeman appears to be most heavily concentrated in the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. In Belgium, the name is commonly seen in the Flemish-speaking parts of the country, with most people having ties to the Flemish region of East Flanders.
Finally, the name is fairly common in Australia, where it is still associated with German and Swiss origins. As of the 2017 Australian census, more than 500 people had the last name Kleeman.
Variations of the surname Kleeman
The surname Kleeman is an Anglo-German surname that is thought to have originated in Germany. It is a patronymic surname derived from the name of the father, in this case, a Germanic personal name composed of the element 'kle' which means 'little'.
Variants of the surname Kleeman include Kleemann, Kleimann, Klayman, Kleman, Climan, Klaiman, Klemme, Kleeme, Climm, Kliem and Kiman.
Some other spellings and surnames of similar origin include Clams, Cleemans, Klem, Clemans, Klemens, Klemence, Klemkens, Clemens, Klempers, Kleve, Klie, Klein, Kleine, Kleinschmidt, Kleinman, Kremer and Kleinmann.
Kleeman is an uncommon surname, although records have been found in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, England, the United States and other countries. There are also variant spellings and surnames of the same origin found in other countries, such as Klimek, Kleemann and Klaemmle in Poland, Klemen and Kleman in Slovenia, and Kleeman and Klieman in Sweden.
Kleeman is a spelling and surname that can be found throughout the world, with many variants and spellings of the same origin. All of these variants and spellings can be traced back to a common Germanic root, with the surname originating as a patronymic, derived from the element 'kle', meaning 'little'.
Famous people with the name Kleeman
- Annette Kleeman: Former president of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities
- Anne Kleeman: American television producer and actress
- Anton Kleeman: German ophthalmologist and academic
- Bernd Kleeman: German television presenter and producer
- Carol Kleeman: American author and business consultant
- David Kleeman: American writer and executive
- Ernst Kleeman: German industrialist
- Friedrich Kleemann: German naturalist and forestry scientist
- Georg Kleeman: German entomologist and astronomer
- Guido Kleeman: Dutch biochemist
- Heinz Kleeman: German aeronautics engineer
- Horst Kleeman: German engineer and inventor
- Jürgen Kleeman: German author and journalist
- Joseph Kleeman: American rabbi and scholar
- Manfred Kleeman: German actor and director
- Marga Kleemann: German singer and songwriter
- Oskar Kleemann: German physicist
- Rainer Kleemann: German organist and composer
- Thomas Kleeman: Swiss composer and musicologist
- Wilhelm Kleemann: German botanist and ornithologist