Surname Kleine-Boese - Meaning and Origin
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Kleine-Boese: What does the surname Kleine-Boese mean?
The German surname Kleine-Boese is derived from the combination of the words “kleine” (“small”) and “boese” (“wicked”). It likely originated as a surname given to people who were believed to have mischievous traits or behaviors, or as a descriptor of someone’s character rather than a literal description of size.
The first recorded instance of this name was in 1360. At this time much of what is now Germany was part of a larger region known as the Holy Roman Empire. Given the combination of announcing someone’s character strengths and weaknesses through surnames, it is likely that the Kleine-Boese were known to be of a mischievous nature in the area.
Historically, the Kleine-Boese have been associated with a number of occupations ranging from farming, to masonry, to carpentry. Records indicate that the family had an important presence in the state of Bavaria in the 18th century and that many members of the family served as mayors, royal courtiers, and teachers in various towns and cities.
In modern times, the Kleine-Boese surname may still indicate a level of mischievousness in the family line although it is more likely to be used as a simple identifier, with the meaning of “small and wicked” having been lost in the passing of time.
Order DNA origin analysisKleine-Boese: Where does the name Kleine-Boese come from?
The last name Kleine-Boese is mostly common in Northern Germany. The name can be found in cities located close to the northern border of Germany such as Berlin, Hamburgand Bremen. It may also be found in other German states like Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Schleswig-Holstein.
Kleine-Boese likely originated near the border between Germany and Denmark. Historical records trace the name back to the early 18th century in the Prussian region along the Eider River. This region is located in present-day Schleswig-Holstein, a state in northern Germany. It is likely that the name also spread to the other northern German states over time.
Today, the surname is often spelled Kleine-Böse, with an Umlaut used in the "ö". This spelling, however, is not as common and its frequency depends on the region. The name has also been anglicised and spelled Kleine-Boese or Kleineboese, which tends to be more common in North America.
The surname Kleine-Boese amounts to several hundred individuals living in Northern Germany today. This includes those with the name in modern Germany as well as those with the name living elsewhere, such as those living in North America. It is also possible that some individuals with the last name have moved away from their home region in Northern Germany, and have resettled in other parts of Europe.
Variations of the surname Kleine-Boese
The surname Kleine-Boese has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The name Kleine-Boese is derived from a combination of two North German surnames: Kleine, meaning 'Small', and Boese, meaning 'Evil'. Common variants of the surname include Kleinboes, Kleineboes, Kleijnboes, Kleineboese, Kleinboese, and Kleinebous.
In terms of spelling varieties of the name, Kleine-Boese may appear with or without a hyphen as well as with double 'ee' or single 'e' at the end. Common spellings of the surname are Kleineboes, Kleine-Boes, Kleineboese, Kleine-Boese, Kleinboes, Kleinebose, Kleinboese, and Kleinebous.
Another variant of the name is Kleineboesem, which is obviously derived from Kleineboes, but with an extra 'm' at the end. This variation may indicate that the originator of the surname was from the city of Boese, Germany.
The same surname is found in other parts of Europe and is sometimes spelled differently. In German-speaking areas, the name sometimes becomes Klainbose. Other surnames that are derived from Kleine-Boese include Klinebose, Klainbose, Kleinbös, Kleinebösel, Kleijnbösel, Kleinbössel, and Kleinebössel.
In the Netherlands, the name is sometimes written as Klinkboes. In Scandinavia, the name may appear as Klenboes. In the US, some may have Anglicized the name to become Kleibusch or Klempusch.
No matter the spelling, all of these surnames are derived from the same base of Kleine-Boese, proving the name’s long and varied history.
Famous people with the name Kleine-Boese
- Karl Kleine-Boese: A German tennis player in the 1970s, known for his impressive footwork on the court and active tournament career.
- Roland Kleine-Boese: A German architect renowned for his modernist designs and construction projects.
- Magdalene Kleine-Boese: An Austrian musician of classical violin and known for her talent as an arranger of traditional folk music.
- Manfred Kleine-Boese: An avid motorcar enthusiast and former General Manager for a German automotive manufacturer.
- Erich Kleine-Boese: A German politician who served in multiple public offices, including as a federal Minister of the Interior from 1965 to 1966.
- Ulrike Kleine-Boese: An award-winning German photographer with a penchant for portrait landscapes.
- Peter Kleine-Boese: A German academic and noted literary scholar, often called upon to give lectures on the subject in Europe and around the world.
- Caren Kleine-Boese: An environmental activist and conservationist who worked to preserve the environment of her native Germany.
- Oliver Kleine-Boese: A German entrepreneur and technology specialist, renown for his development of digital payment solutions.
- August Kleine-Boese: A German politician and former mayor of a city in the southern region of Lower Saxony.