Show ContentsKlemens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

German surnames developed at a time when most of the German provinces were states of the Holy Roman Empire. At first people used only a single name, but as the population grew and people began to travel, they began to find it necessary to take on an additional name to differentiate themselves. Fairly general principles guided the development of hereditary surnames in Germany. Two of the common types of family names found in Germany are patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and matronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name.

Early Origins of the Klemens family

The surname Klemens was first found in Saxony, where the family contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation and would later play a large role in the political conflicts of the area. The family branched into many houses, many of which acquired estates and manors throughout the surrounding regions, where they played significant roles in the social and political affairs. The name refers back to St. Clemens, the patron saint of sailors. Individual bearers of this name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include Nicolas Clemmenter (1332) of Bohemia.

Early History of the Klemens family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Klemens research. Another 161 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1543, 1556, 1558, 1560, 1710, 1744, 1780 and 1790 are included under the topic Early Klemens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Klemens Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Klemmenz, Klemmentz, Klemmens, Klemments, Klemens, Clemmens, Clemens, Clemmenz, Clemmentz, Clemments, Clementz, Klementz, Klemenz, Klements, Klemmz, Klemmtz, Klemz, Klemts, Klemtz, Klemment, Klement, Clemment, Clement, Klems, Klemmt (Silesia), Klemt (Silesia), Klemmenter, Clemmenten, Clemmenter and many more.

Early Notables of the Klemens family

Prominent bearers of the family name Klemens at this time were Jacob Clement (Clemens), one of the most renowned 16th century composers. He was born in Flanders, and succeeded Gombert as chief Chapel-master to Charles V. Of the time and place of hia birth or death, or of any event of his life, nothing is known. It is probable that he spent several years in Italy; and it is certain that he died before 1558. Clement was one of the most prolific composers of his day. This man, whose very name is now known only to a few curious students, was...
Another 240 words (17 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Klemens Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Klemens migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Klemens Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Valentin Klemens, who settled in Philadelphia in 1754

Contemporary Notables of the name Klemens (post 1700) +

  • Larry Klemens, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 21st District, 1998 1
  • Jozef Božetech Klemens (1817-1883), Slovak portrait painter, sculptor, photographer, inventor and naturalist
  • Ben Klemens (b. 1975), Australian economist, author, and co-host of the podcast 'Pod, Paper, Scissors'
  • Ignacy Klemens Glodowski (b. 1898), Polish economist
  • Reinhart Klemens Maurer (b. 1935), German philosopher
  • Klemens Ludwig (1955-2022), German astrologist, writer, publicist, and Tibetan scholar, first chairman of the Deutscher Astrologen-Verband in 2015
  • Klemens Janicki (1516-1543), Polish poet
  • Klemens Wilhelm Jacob Meckel (1842-1905), Prussian general, foreign advisor to the government of Meiji period
  • Klemens Brentano, German poet and novelist

Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. Josef Klemens (d. 1914), German Third Class Passenger from Hamburg, Germany who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 2


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  2. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html


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