Surname Kleine-Möllhof - Meaning and Origin
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Kleine-Möllhof: What does the surname Kleine-Möllhof mean?
Kleine-Möllhof is a German surname originating in Westphalia, Germany. The literal translation of the name is 'little mill creek', which indicates that it was most likely initially used as a toponymic surname to define families living close to a mill creek.
The root 'Kleine' refers to the stream's relatively small stature and 'Möllhof' is a combination of two words – 'mole' and 'hof' - which mean 'mill' and 'garden' respectively. Together, these words signify a small creek surrounded by a garden, a common feature of buildings back in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Today, families with the Kleine-Möllhof surname are still spread all over Germany. As they are a relatively common name, there are plenty of branches of the family, but the core values of their original Westphalian heritage remain. These values, such as hard work, reliability and trust, are of great importance to them and are usually displayed by their neighbours, friends and family.
Kleine-Möllhof not only refers to a place – it's also a marker of a family's history. It conjures images not only of a small stream and a garden, but also of their ancestors who made the commitment to continue the values that were originally established and passed down to them for generations.
Order DNA origin analysisKleine-Möllhof: Where does the name Kleine-Möllhof come from?
The surname Kleine-Möllhof is most commonly found in the lands of German-speaking Europe. It originated in the area surrounding Erzgebirge, an Ore Mountains range in Saxony, Germany, that straddles the Czech Republic and Germany borders. The first mentions of the name date back to 1570, with mentions of several related families living and owning land in the area.
Today, the surname Kleine-Möllhof can be found in scattered parts of Germany and elsewhere in German-speaking Europe. It is especially prevalent in the region around Erzgebirge, as well as in parts of Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, and parts of Baden-Württemberg.
In terms of distribution outside of German-speaking Europe, Kleine-Möllhof exists in countries such as the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. During the late nineteenth-century mass migration from Europe, many Germans, including some bearing the Kleine-Möllhof surname, arrived and settled in various parts of these countries. Today, some descendants of these immigrants continue to bear the name in these countries.
In addition, due to modern day travel and migration, it is possible to come across the Kleine-Möllhof name in many countries around the globe, especially in countries where German descendants have migrated and migrants from German-speaking regions exist.
Variations of the surname Kleine-Möllhof
The surnames Kleine and Möllhof have different origins, however they can both found together in the surname 'Kleine-Möllhof'.
The origin of the surname 'Kleine' traces back to several Germanic origins, with one of the main origins coming from the word 'klein', meaning small. Various spellings of the surname include 'Kleine', 'Klein', 'Kleyne', and 'Kleinen'.
The surname 'Möllhof', on the other hand, likely originates from the Germanic elements 'mulinhoven', meaning 'millers' farm'. Variants of this name include 'Möllhof', 'Millhof', 'Möllhoven', and 'Millhoven'.
While both names originate from separate origins, they have been combined in the surname 'Kleine-Möllhof'. Other spellings for the combined surname also exist, such as 'Klein-Möllhof', 'Kleyne-Millhof', 'Kleinen-Millhoven', and so on.
In some parts of the world, such as in the Netherlands, Kleine-Möllhof is a variant of the name 'Kleinmöllen', which combines both the Kleine and Möllhof surnames but follows a different spelling pattern.
All in all, the Kleine and Möllhof surnames have a long history and a variety of variants and spellings, which can be combined in several different ways, and with various spellings, resulting in the different surname combinations we know today as Kleine-Möllhof.
Famous people with the name Kleine-Möllhof
- Paul Kleine-Möllhof: Paul Kleine-Möllhof was a German mathematician, physicist and astronomer who made important contributions to the study of Newton's laws of motion and optics.
- Hans-Ludwig Kleine-Möllhof: Hans-Ludwig Kleine-Möllhof was a German jurist, politician and social reformer in Lower Saxony, best known for his work advocating equal rights for women.
- Robert Kleine-Möllhof: Robert Kleine-Möllhof is a German physicist and professor at the Technical University of Braunschweig, where he teaches experimental physics and biophysics.
- Anna Kleine-Möllhof: Anna Kleine-Möllhof was an opera singer active in Germany in the early 20th century.
- Christine Kleine-Möllhof: Christine Kleine-Möllhof is a German lawyer and former judge at the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) and Constitutional Court (BverfG).
- Justus Kleine-Möllhof: Justus Kleine-Möllhof is a German filmmaker, author and professor of film studies at the Universität der Künste in Berlin.
- Jürgen Kleine-Möllhof: Jürgen Kleine-Möllhof is a German economist and professor at the Universität der Künste Berlin.
- Thomas Kleine-Möllhof: Thomas Kleine-Möllhof is a German photographer and documentary maker.
- Frauke Kleine-Möllhof: Frauke Kleine-Möllhof is a German journalist and editor-in-chief of the magazine Bilanz.
- Peter Kleine-Möllhof: Peter Kleine-Möllhof was a German illustrator and graphic designer specializing in political posters and comics.