Klenske last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Klenske

A habitational name indicating someone from a place named Klenske.

Klenske, 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 Klenske surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Klenske in America

Klenske is the 149328th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Klenske surname appeared 101 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Klenske.

The history of the last name Klenske

KLENSKE is a surname with roots in Central Europe, particularly in the regions that are today known as Poland and Germany. Historical records trace the surname back to the late Middle Ages, indicating that it first emerged in areas that were heavily influenced by both Slavic and Germanic cultures. The name is believed to be a toponymic surname, derived from the name of a place.

The name KLENSKE is likely derived from the old Slavic word "klen," which means "maple tree." This etymological root suggests that the original bearers of the surname may have lived near a notable maple tree or forested area, or perhaps were involved in woodworking or forestry. An alternative theory is that KLENSKE could be connected to a settlement or village name, with "ske" or "ke" being a suffix indicating origin or association.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in municipal documents from the 15th century in the region of Silesia, a historical area straddling modern-day Poland and Germany. Historical manuscripts from the late 1400s reference a Jakob Klenske, who was noted for his involvement in local governance in a small Silesian town. This early mention highlights the name's regional prominence during that period.

In the 16th century, records from the Duchy of Pomerania, located along the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, indicate the presence of a Hans Klenske, a merchant known for his trade routes extending across the Baltic and into Scandinavia. Hans Klenske's activities are documented in trade registers dating to 1553, further cementing the surname's historical footprint in the region.

Another notable figure is Maria Klenske, who lived in the early 17th century and was a midwife in the town of Głogów. Her name appears in civic records from 1620, highlighting her role in the community and providing valuable insight into the social structure of the time.

The surname also appears in the records of the Thirty Years' War, which ravaged Central Europe during the early 17th century. A soldier named Christoph Klenske is mentioned in a military roster from 1634, stationed near what is now the Czech Republic. His involvement demonstrates both the widespread distribution and the military service of individuals bearing the KLENSKE name during this tumultuous period.

Later, in the 18th century, records from the city of Breslau (now Wrocław) reference a Friedrich Klenske, a craftsman who contributed to the construction of several significant architectural projects in the city. His work, documented in guild records from 1742, reflects the surname's continuing presence and the diverse occupations of those who bore it.

KLENSKE has also been documented in the emigration records of the 19th century, as families left Central Europe for opportunities abroad, especially to the United States and Canada. Among these emigrants was a Piotr Klenske, who arrived in New York in 1881 and later became a notable community leader in the Polish-American neighborhood of Chicago.

The surname KLENSKE thus encapsulates a rich history spanning centuries and encompassing a variety of social roles and geographical locales. Historically significant individuals with the KLENSKE surname have contributed to their communities in governance, commerce, midwifery, military service, craftsmanship, and emigration, reflecting the diverse legacy of this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Klenske

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Klenske was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 93.07% 94
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 4.95% 5
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Klenske was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Klenske last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/klenske-surname-popularity/.

"Klenske last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/klenske-surname-popularity/. Accessed 4 July, 2025

Klenske last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/klenske-surname-popularity/.

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