Find out how popular the last name Cless is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Cless.

Cless, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Cless surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cless in America

Cless is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cless surname appeared 114 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Cless.

The history of the last name Cless

The surname CLESS has its origins in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "klesse," meaning a small bundle or package. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to an occupation, such as a merchant or trader who dealt in bundles of goods.

One of the earliest known references to the name CLESS can be found in the town records of Augsburg, Germany, from the year 1583, where a certain Hans Cless is mentioned as a merchant. In the 17th century, the name appears in various church records across southern Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

The CLESS surname is also present in some historical manuscripts, such as the "Chronik der Stadt Nürnberg" (Chronicle of the City of Nuremberg), which mentions a family with the name Cless residing in the city during the late 16th century. This document provides insight into the social standing and occupations of those bearing the name at that time.

One notable figure in history with the surname CLESS was Johann Cless, a German painter and engraver from Nuremberg, who lived from 1590 to 1633. His works, primarily religious paintings and engravings, can be found in various churches and museums across Germany.

Another individual of note was Konrad Cless, a German architect and master builder who lived in the 17th century. He was responsible for the construction of several notable buildings in the city of Augsburg, including the Perlachturm, a prominent tower that still stands today.

In the 18th century, the name CLESS appears in records from the town of Reutlingen, in present-day Baden-Württemberg. Here, a family by the name of Cless owned a successful textile business, which contributed to the town's thriving textile industry at the time.

Moving into the 19th century, there are records of a Johann Friedrich Cless, born in 1812 in Württemberg, who was a renowned clockmaker and inventor. His innovative designs and mechanisms were highly regarded in the watchmaking industry of the time.

While the surname CLESS may have originated in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, its roots can be traced back to the German-speaking regions of central Europe, where it once referred to an occupation or trade involving the handling of bundles or packages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cless

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Cless.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cless was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Cless was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cless, please contact us.

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