Claes

Claes is a masculine given name of Dutch and Scandinavian usage, and it also appears as a surname in Dutch-speaking regions. The name is a variant of Klaas or Clas, forms of the given name Nicolas/Nicholas, which in turn derives from the Greek Nikolaos. In Sweden the form Claes is common, while in the Netherlands and Belgium Klaas is more typical; Claes may occur as an alternative spelling in those areas as well.

Notable bearers with Claes as a given name include Claes Oldenburg, a Swedish-born American sculptor renowned for his large-scale public works; Claes Andersson, a Swedish-Finnish actor, writer and politician; and Claes-Göran Hederström, a Swedish singer who represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1968. The name has been borne by figures across fields such as the arts, academia and sports, reflecting its wide usage in Nordic and Dutch communities.

As a surname, Claes is found in Dutch-speaking regions and among communities with Dutch heritage. It is encountered in historical records and contemporary profiles, where it may be confused with the related surnames Klaes or Claessen, depending on regional spelling traditions.

Related forms and variants include Klaas, Clas, Claus and Klaus. The name’s long history and cross-cultural presence contribute to its continued use in parts of Europe and with diaspora communities around the world.