| ![Show Contents]() Klas History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany The name Klas was first used by the people of the German province of Westphalia, which lay in the area between the Rhine and Wesser rivers. It is a patronymic name, derived from the given name of the father of the original bearer. Along with metronymic names, which come from the name of the mother of the bearer, patronymics were one of the most popular early German name types. Klas was derived from the baptismal name Clausen, which is a form of the name Nicholas. The given name Nicholas, which means people's victory, was popular among Christians throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. Early Origins of the Klas familyThe surname Klas was first found in Westphalia, where the family made a considerable contribution to the feudal society which shaped modern Europe. The family branched into several houses, all of which played important roles in the local political conflicts which forged the nation. Early History of the Klas familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Klas research. Another 176 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1622, 1676, 1678, 1786 and 1850 are included under the topic Early Klas History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Klas Spelling VariationsIn the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Klas include Klassen, Klasse, Klass, Klasen, Klase, Klas, Classen, Classe, Class, Clasen, Clase, Clas, Klasing, Klaasen, Klaasen, Claasen, Klaase, Claase, Klaas and many more. Early Notables of the Klas familyMore information is included under the topic Early Klas Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Klas migration to the United States | + |
For many Germans, emigration to North America was an inviting alternative to the trials of life in the old country. From the mid-17th into the present century, thousands of Germans migrated across the Atlantic. They capitalized on the chance to escape poverty and persecution, and to own their own land. After 1650, Germans settled throughout the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also landed in Canada, settling in Ontario or father west on the rich land of the prairies. Among them:
Klas Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Peter Klas, who landed in Galveston, Tex in 1846 1
- Fred Klas, who landed in Texas in 1850-1906 1
- John Klas, who arrived in Texas in 1850-1906 1
| Contemporary Notables of the name Klas (post 1700) | + |
- Klas Ivar Vilhelm Lestander (1931-2023), Swedish gold medalist biathlete at the 1960 Winter Olympics
- Klas Inge "Klabbe" Ingesson (1968-2014), Swedish footballer and manager
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
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Klas migration to the United States 
