Surname Klockener - Meaning and Origin
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Klockener: What does the surname Klockener mean?
Klockener (also often spelled Klöckener) is a German last name, often from the region of the Rheinland-Pfalz. It is believed to have originated from the Old German word "klokene," which means rock. This could point to someone's ancestral home being a rocky hill or outcropping, or simply to a family that was associated with rocks for another reason.
The surname has been in use in Germany since the mid-18th century, and is still popular today. The name is most highly concentrated in certain parts of Germany, such as the former West Germany and certain parts of Bavaria.
The meaning of the name Klockener may also refer to being a hunter, since "klock" can sometimes be used to mean arrow. This suggests that the ancestral family may have been involved in hunting game, which would have been a common activity in the area in the 18th century.
No matter the original meaning of the name, it is clear that the Klockener family name has been part of German history for many centuries. It is part of the tapestry of German culture, and many bearers of the name are proud to have it as a part of their lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisKlockener: Where does the name Klockener come from?
The last name Klockener is most commonly found in Germany. It is a variation on the surname Klockner, which has its roots in the given name Clodoald; Clodoald coming from two German roots meaning "loud" and "rule".
Most people with the surname Klockener have descendants in the Rhineland area of Germany, especially near the city of Mannheim, which is often referred to as Klockenerland. Around the 16th century, most of the people with the surname Klockener lived in the vicinity of Mannheim, and some of them in the nearby places in France.
The presence of Klockener in Germany is largely due to emigration from the area of Alsace, bordering France and Germany, and which has had a complex history of switching hands between the countries. Emigrants with this last name brought it with them to areas of Germany as they ventured out.
Today, there are still many places in which this surname is fairly common, with the largest pockets of people with the last name Klockener living in German states such as Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. There are even some with the surname living in the United States, primarily in California and New York, making up 6.6% of all Klockeners in the US.
Despite its Germanic roots, the surname Klockener can be found all over the world and, while it may not be as common as some other last names, is a reminder of the complex Germanic history of the Rhineland region.
Variations of the surname Klockener
Klockener is a German surname with various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "Klochen," which means to knock or strike, and was likely originally an occupational name for a locksmith or from someone living near a solid metal door.
It can be spelled Klockner, as well as variants Klockenerr, Klocknarr, Klöckner, Kloker, Klockerer, Kluger, Klocklehner, Klockenhein, Klöcook, Klöckener, Klückener, Klöchnere, Clocner, Cloking, Clogener, Klaking, Kleckner, and Klocklor.
There are several surnames of the same origin, such as Klockemeyer, Klocker, Klöckl, Klockenbusch, Klück, Klöcking, Klucak, Klockenga, Klockermeyer, Clockemeyer.
Klockener is also a place name associated with the surname in some cases, such as in the Klockener Hill in Biron, France, Klockener Cemetery in Indiana, and Klockener Street in New York.
The Klockener family is found mostly in Germany and many descendants of the Klockener family emigrated to other countries throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name Klockener
- Wolfgang Klockener, German Air Force general
- Richard Klockener, a 19th century German teacher
- John Klockener, a broadcaster and sports journalist
- Rebecca Klockener, an American-born actress
- Mary Klockener, a poet and educator
- Patricia Klockener, a German actress
- Louise Klockener, a German lawyer and politician
- William Klockener, a German author and translator
- Johann Klockener, a 19th century German sculptor
- Ferdinand Klockener, a Swiss caricaturist