Claes

Claes is a Swedish and Dutch contracted form of Nicholas, which derives from the Greek name Nikolaos, composed of the elements nike, meaning victory, and laos, meaning people. The name spread widely across medieval Europe through the cult of Saint Nicholas, the fourth-century bishop of Myra who became the patron saint of children and sailors. Claes was common in Scandinavia and the Low Countries during the medieval and early modern periods, borne notably by the Dutch painter Claes Oldenburg's namesakes and various Flemish figures. Related forms include Klaas, Nils, Klaus, and Nicolas.