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Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • German : nickname from Middle High German and Middle Low German klār ‘pure’, ‘beautiful’, ‘clear’.
  • German : metronymic from the female personal name Klara, equivalent of Clara (see Clair and Sinclair).
  • German : from a short form of the Latin personal name Hilarius (see Hillary).
  • Jewish (Ashkenazic) : ornamental name from German Klar ‘clear’, ‘beautiful’.
  • This surname is also found in Sweden, probably originally taken there from Germany.

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