Surname Kleine-Katthöfer - Meaning and Origin
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Kleine-Katthöfer: What does the surname Kleine-Katthöfer mean?
The last name Kleine-Katthöfer is a German patronymic surname, meaning “small Katthöfer,” derived from the personal name Katthöfer, which is derived from the Old German personal name “Chato” plus the nickname suffix “-hofer.” The name likely has a corresponding shallow meaning, since “hofer”, which in German means “belonging to”, was commonly used as a nickname for people who lived on the same turf. As for the personal name “Chato,” it is an Ancient Germanic given name which means “brave,” “bold” and “strong.”
The full name could, therefore, suggest someone who was small and brave; or someone who was brave and belonged to small turf. The surname is still quite common in Germany, even though many of its branches have migrated to other countries. As of about 20 years ago, there were approximately 900 individuals listed in the German telephone directory with this surname.
Today, Kleine-Katthöfer is a unique family name with a long and interesting background. Its origin goes back to Ancient Germany and has lasted hundreds of years in many German-speaking countries and those countries they have emigrated to. The name’s meaning tells the story of a brave person who belonged to some small, yet courageous family from generations ago.
Order DNA origin analysisKleine-Katthöfer: Where does the name Kleine-Katthöfer come from?
The last name Kleine-Katthöfer is most commonly found throughout Germany, particularly in the northern and central provinces. It is also prevalent in the Netherlands, Beligum, Switzerland, and Austria. Kleine-Katthöfer is an intriguing last name that denotes a long history. Its roots stretch back to medieval Germany and the Middle Ages; the origins of the name suggests it was borne by a person from the northern German region known as Katthagen.
The origin of Kleine-Katthöfer can be traced back to the German word "Klein," meaning small or little. The Kleine-Katthöfer name likely first appeared in the 13th Century in the German state of Schleswig Holstein, when it was used as a surname for people from a small town called Katthagen. By the 16th Century, Kleine-Katthöfer had become a fairly common name throughout northern Germany as well as in certain border regions of the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Austria.
Today, the last name Kleine-Katthöfer is still fairly common, particularly in Germany. Its proximity to other countries with similar surnames, such as Kleine-Käufers in the Netherlands and Kleine-Käufe in Sweden, suggests that the name likely has a long and varied history. While the exact meaning of Kleine-Katthöfer may remain a mystery, it is clear that this intriguing last name is steeped in a rich history that stretches back centuries.
Variations of the surname Kleine-Katthöfer
The surname Kleine-Katthöfer is of German origin. It is derived from katte, meaning ‘kitten’, and hofer, meaning ‘farmer’ or ‘landowner’. The most common variants of this surname include Kleinekattheuer, Kleinekathofer, Kleine Katthöfer, Kleine-Katthöfer, Kleinekätheuer, Konigskatthoeffer and Konigskatthöfer.
Some of these variants are spelled slightly differently, or feature slight differences in accent marks. The variants Kleine-Katthöfer and Kleinekathofer are, for example, spelled with different amounts of accent marks. Variants without the ‘e’ at the end, such as Königskatthöfer and Königskatthoeffer, are sometimes found as well.
The surname can also be found with the letter 'K' at the beginning, or with a ‘C’ instead of the ‘K’, indicating a change in phonetic pronunciation. The variants Klowinkatthöfer, KlenKathhöfer and Clegankatthöfer are all forms of the original surname.
There are also variants of the surname that keep the same spelling, but have different surnames, such as Kloetenkatthöfer, Klethenkatthöfer, Kleinenkathöfer and Klettenkathöfer.
The surname is also found in variant spellings in other languages. In Dutch it is spelled Kleine-Katthoeffer, while in Danish it is Klauskatthöfer. In Swedish, it is spelled Klintekatthöfer, and in Norwegian, it is spelled Klinsekatthöfer.
Overall, there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Kleine-Katthöfer. As these are all linked to the original surname, they are all indicative of the same roots and sharing a common ancestor for those with the surname.
Famous people with the name Kleine-Katthöfer
- Dr. Dorothee Kleine-Kathöfer: A pediatrician and research director of the Pediatric Infectology and Epidemiology Center in Essen, Germany.
- Prof. Iris Kleine-Kathöfer: Professor of Ethics in Practice at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany, and specialist in bioethics.
- Dr. Anne Kathrin Kleine-Kathöfer: Lecturer and research fellow in International Business at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany.
- Reinhild Kleine-Kathöfer: Visual artist and sculptor living in Essen, Germany.
- Ute Kleine-Kathöfer: TV presenter and actor from Germany.
- Johannes Kleine-Kathöfer: Interior designer and entrepreneur from Germany. 7. Ludwig Kleine-Kathöfer: Catholic priest and theologian from Germany.
- Dr. Michael Kleine-Kathöfer: Geostrategist and professor of EU-Politics at the University of Nürnberg-Erlangen in Germany.
- Prof. Andrea Kleine-Kathöfer: Professor of neuropsychology at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany.
- Dr. Antje Kleine-Kathöfer: German attorney specialized in family law and gender rights.