Claesz

Claesz is a Dutch patronymic surname meaning "son of Claes." Claes is a Dutch given name, a form of Claas derived from Nicholas, so Claesz identified a person as the descendant of someone named Claes. The spelling with a final -sz is especially common in historical Dutch records and signatures from the 16th to 18th centuries. Variants or related forms include Claes, Claesen, and Claessen, which appear in genealogical and historical sources.

The name is primarily found in the Netherlands and other Dutch-speaking regions, though bearers may occur in diaspora communities. As a historical pattern, Claesz appears in official documents, church rolls, and art-historical records, particularly where signatures or descriptions indicate lineage.

Notable bearers include Pieter Claesz (1597–1660), a Dutch Golden Age painter celebrated for still lifes and vanitas works. His output and signatures illustrate the use of the name in the early modern Dutch arts world. The form Claesz is now relatively uncommon as a modern surname but remains of interest in genealogical and art-historical contexts.

See also: Claes, Claesen, Claessen.