Surname Kleine-Vehn - Meaning and Origin
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Kleine-Vehn: What does the surname Kleine-Vehn mean?
The last name Kleine-Vehn is of German origin and is composed of two elements. The first element is derived from the Middle High German word “klein”, meaning “small” and the second is derived from the Middle High German word “vehe”, which means “forager, snatcher”.
Klein was historically used as a topographic or occupational name, signifying someone who lived or worked in the area where the name originated. It may also have been used to indicate someone who had a small stature, or was diminutive in nature.
Vehn was originally derived from the occupation of foraging, as in the act of going out into the fields and collecting wild grains and vegetables. It may also be interpreted as the act of snatching something from the surroundings.
In German, the literal meaning of Kleine-Vehn is “small forager”, or “small snatcher”. To some it could signify someone who is small and industrious in their approach to work. To others, it could point to someone who has a light-hearted attitude, grabbing their opportunities when they arise.
Overall, the last name Kleine-Vehn may have originated as an occupational surname, possibly referring to a person responsible for foraging in fields for food, or it could be interpreted as a metaphor for someone who is quick to act when opportunity arises. Either way, the Kleine-Vehn surname carries a sense of resourcefulness and independence.
Order DNA origin analysisKleine-Vehn: Where does the name Kleine-Vehn come from?
The last name Kleine-Vehn is mostly found in Germany and other German-speaking countries, such as Austria, Switzerland and areas in Eastern Europe. It is also found among German immigrants to the United States and other parts of the world.
The name is most commonly found in the northern and central regions of Germany, in states such as Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Bavaria. It is rarer in the south where the surname is generally found more commonly with the spelling Kleinewefen.
In the past, depending on the German region, the spelling and pronunciation of the surname might also vary. Some variations of the name include Kleine-Wehne, Kleine-Wen, Kleine-Wehn and Kleineven.
The origin of the name Kleine-Vehn can be traced back to the 1990s, where it was a common patronymic (derived from a father's first name) in Germany. It is derived from the Middle High German name Vehne, which evolved from the name Wehne. The default translation of the name into English is 'little meadow or field', which suggests that it was probably an occupational name used to describe someone who had a job in land management, agriculture or similar.
Overall, the surname Kleine-Vehn is still quite common in Germany and other German-speaking countries today. Its use can be traced back several centuries, with a variety of regional spelling variations and alternative pronunciations of the name still being used in modern times.
Variations of the surname Kleine-Vehn
Kleine-Vehn is a German-language surname. Historically, German surnames have been spelled phonetically in a large variety of ways, and Kleine-Vehn is no different.
The most common variant spelling of Kleine-Vehn is Kleinevehn, with the hyphen removed. Other common variants include Kleinea Vehn, Kleine Vehn, Kleinevehn, Kleineo Vehn, Kline Vehn, Kleinevahn, Kleinevahn, Kleine Vohen, Kleine Vohn, Kleine Vohen, and Kleine Uhlen.
In addition to these variant spellings, Kleine-Vehn also has surnames of the same origin. These include Kleineuyelin, Kleinelehn, Kleineveyhlen, Kleineuehlen, Kleineveyhn, Kleineauhl, Kleineauhlen, Kleinehlen, Kleinevahlen, Kleinevohl, and Kleine Fahhn.
Although spelling variations of Kleine-Vehn are common, all of them have the same origin. Variations in spelling are likely to do with immigration-related changes, family origin, and language or regional dialect.
Famous people with the name Kleine-Vehn
- Heinrich Kleine-Vehn (1876–1935), German physicist who made pioneering contributions to the field of solid-state theory
- Elisabeth Kleine-Vehn (1893–1977), a female German physicist and mathematician
- Eric Kleine-Vehn (1916–1992), a German chemical engineer
- Klaus Kleine-Vehn (1930–2007), a German architect
- Uta Kleine-Vehn (1936–2009), a professor of German language and literature
- Frank Kleine-Vehn (born 1963), a German-Canadian businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Florian Kleine-Vehn (born 1993), German soccer player
- Paulina Kleine-Vehn (born 1994), German Paralympic Swimmer
- Jürgen Kleine-Vehn (born 1976), a German theater director and actor
- Catherine Kleine-Vehn (born 1980), a German journalist and communications expert