Show ContentsKees History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Kees

What does the name Kees mean?

The roots of the distinguished German surname Kees lie in the former duchy of Swabia. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "kaeser," denoting a person who made and sold cheese.

Early Origins of the Kees family

The surname Kees was first found in Swabia, where it is believed to have first emerged, initially borne by dairy farmers and cheesemongers. The earliest documented instance of the name has been traced to this region, where Arnold Chesere was recorded to have lived in 1246. The young Kees family was instrumental during this early period, playing a major role in the development of medieval Swabian society.

Early History of the Kees family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kees research. Another 132 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1246, 1370, 1727, 1781, 1804, 1816, 1841, 1853 and 1916 are included under the topic Early Kees History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kees Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kaser, Kase, Käs, Käser, Keser, Keese, Keeser, Kaas, Kälein, Käsgen, Kese, Kees and many more.

Early Notables of the Kees family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kees Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kees Ranking

In the United States, the name Kees is the 10,057th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Kees migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kees Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mary Kees, who landed in Virginia in 1702 2
  • Johan Peter Kees, who arrived in New York in 1709 2
  • Fable Kees, aged 20, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 2
  • Peter Kees, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 2
  • Joh Philip Kees, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1774 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Kees (post 1700) +

  • Frederick G. Kees (1852-1927), American architect, co-founder of the Kees and Colburn architectural fiorm
  • Frank M. Kees Jr., American politician, Mayor of Natchitoches, Louisiana, 1950-55 3
  • Kees Torn (b. 1967), Dutch comedian
  • Kees Teer (1925-2021), Dutch electrical engineer and director of the Philips Natuurkundig Laboratorium from 1968 until 1985
  • Kees Wiese (1936-2020), Dutch journalist, writer and poet from Utrecht, Netherlands
  • Kees van Buuren (b. 1986), Dutch football defender
  • Kees de Wit (1924-1993), Dutch soil scientist and plant breeder
  • Kees Brusse (1925-2013), Dutch actor, film director and screenwriter
  • Kees Kist (b. 1952), Dutch retired football striker
  • Kees Lensing (b. 1978), Namibian rugby union player

USS Indianapolis
  • Shalous Eugene Kees (1919-1995), American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he survived the sinking 4


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  4. Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew


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