Surname Spotlight: Klausen

Spelling was not fixed until the modern era, so Klaus could easily become Klausen. Read literally, Klausen points to “A descendant of Klaus, a short form of Nikolaus”.

Family crest and blazon

Looking for a Klausen coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours.

How the spelling arose

Klausen adds -en to the root of Klaus, a familiar way of forming related surnames. Spellings drifted because names were written down by ear in parish books, tax rolls and passenger lists. Related forms: Klaußen, Klauss and Klas.

The 2010 US Census counted 221 people named Klausen, ranking it number 84,748 among American surnames. Want more than a summary? See the Klausen family name pack.