Meaning & History
Etymology
Cloet is a Dutch surname, a variant of Kloet (also found as De Cloet or De Kloet). The root Kloet likely derives from Middle Dutch cloet meaning “lump, ball”. This may have been a nickname for an oafish person, or alternatively could have originated as a name for someone who lived near a sign bearing a globe or sphere.
Distribution and Variants
The name is primarily found in the Netherlands and Flanders. Besides the spelling with C or K, the patronymic form Kloeten (“child of Kloet”) also exists, as do the prefixed forms De Cloet and De Kloet.
- Meaning: derived from Middle Dutch cloet “lump, ball” (nickname or sign-name)
- Origin: Dutch
- Type: Surname
- Usage regions: Netherlands, Flanders
Related Names
Sources: Forebears — cloet