Klee () is a German and Ashkenazi Jewish surname. Variations include Kleefeld, Kleeblatt, Kleegman, Kleiman, Kleeman and Kleeberg. In German, it means "clover" and is possibly a toponymic surname like Feldman.
According to researchers at ANU – Museum of the Jewish People, the name Klee originates from the Greek Kalonymos (), a translation of the Hebrew "shem tov" () meaning "good name". Klee is documented as a Jewish surname in Alsace in France since the 18th century, along with similar names such as Kleemann.
In France, the name is associated with the Alsatian commune of Katzenthal, near Colmar.
People with the name Klee
Alfred Klee (1875–1943), German lawyer and Zionist leader Bernhard Klee (1936–2025), German conductor Carsten Klee (born 1970), German footballer Ernst Klee (1942–2013), German teacher, writer, and filmmaker of works about the Holocaust Esther Eugenie Klee-Rawidowicz (1900–1980), German-Jewish biologist, wife of the Polish-born American Jewish philosopher Simon Rawidowicz (1897–1957) Flora Klee-Palyi (1893–1961), Jewish Hungarian illustrator, translator, and editor Heinrich Klee (1800–1840), German theologian Jean-Louis Klée (1908–1989), Alsatian spy Jean-Paul Klée (1943–), Alsatian poet Karl Heinz Klee (1930–2008), Austrian sports official Ken Klee (born 1971), American professional ice hockey player Miguel Klee (born 1977), Guatemalan football goalkeeper Ollie Klee (1900–1977), outfielder in Major League Baseball Patricia Klee, American politician Paul Klee (1879–1940), German-Swiss painter Raymond-Lucien Klée (1907–1944), French philosopher Ruth Judith Klee (1901–1942), family friend of Anne Frank Victor Klee (1925–2007), mathematician Waldemar Gøthrik Klee (1853–1891), Californian horticulturist
People with the name Kleeblatt
Norman Kleeblatt, curator at the Jewish Museum (Manhattan)
People with the name Kleiman
Ariel Kleiman (born 1985), Australian director Bernard Kleiman (1928–2006), lawyer Dave Kleiman (1967–2013), American forensic computer expert Devra G. Kleiman (1942–2010), American biologist Johannes Kleiman (1896–1959), Dutch helper of the Frank family Mark A. R. Kleiman (1951–2019), American academic drug policy authority Michael Kleiman, documentary filmmaker Naum Kleiman (born 1937), historian of cinema Pascal Kleiman (born 1968), disc jockey Steven Kleiman (born 1942), American mathematician Vladimir Kleiman (1930–2014), Russian scientist
People with the name Kleeman
Alexandra Kleeman (born 1986), American writer Jenny Kleeman, Jewish-British documentary film-maker and journalist Otto Kleemann (1855–1936), American architect Wilhelm Kleemann (1869–1969), Jewish banker
People with the name Kleefeld
Carolyn Mary Kleefeld, American poet and author Hans Kleefeld (1929–2016), Canadian designer Käte Stresemann (1883–1970), née Kleefeld, German Weimar Republic society figure Kurt von Kleefeld (1881–1934), German lawyer
People with the name Kleeberg
Clotilde Kleeberg (1866–1909), French pianist Franciszek Kleeberg (1888–1941), Polish general Michael Kleeberg (born 1959), German writer and translator Minna Kleeberg (1841–1878), German-American poet Sophie Kleeberg (born 1990), German shot putter
People with the name Kleegman
Sophia Kleegman, Russian American obstetrician, gynecologist, and sex education advocate
References
Other sources
Lars Menk: A Dictionary of German-Jewish Surnames. Avotaynu, Bergenfield, 2005. David S. Zubatsky and Irwin M. Berent: Sourcebook for Jewish Genealogies and Family Histories. Avotaynu, 1996.
See also Kleefeld Kleeblatt Kleiman Kleeman Kleeberg Feldman Feldmann