Surname Kleineheinrich - Meaning and Origin
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Kleineheinrich: What does the surname Kleineheinrich mean?
Kleineheinrich is a German surname derived from the Old High German words 'klein' meaning 'small' and 'heinrich' meaning 'ruler of the home'. It is thought to be an occupational surname, given to someone who was a steward or servant in an aristocratic household.
In the early days of the family, the Kleineheinrichs were typically responsible for the day-to-day management of the household they served in, accounting for its resources and keeping on top of its supplies. They would also be in charge of goods and money entering and leaving the house and could also act as secretary to the master of the house. In some cases, the Kleineheinrichs held a position akin to a modern-day butler, taking on a variety of tasks that enabled the household to function.
Given their roles within the households, the Kleineheinrichs were well respected and held in high regard, forming an important part of the German aristocracy. The Kleineheinrichs were also key figures of the landed class of the area, as by acting as caretakers of their master’s land and their property, they managed the land and in some cases were even in charge of other labourers.
Over time, many Kleineheinrichs moved away from their ancestral field of work and established families in different areas of the world. However, their legacy lives on in the form of their surname and its connotations of loyalty, responsibility and hard work.
Order DNA origin analysisKleineheinrich: Where does the name Kleineheinrich come from?
The last name Kleineheinrich is primarily found in East and West Germany, as well as the Netherlands and France. It is considered to be a Franco-Germanic name, making it an uncommon but widely spread surname.
In East Germany, the name is found mainly in the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony. West Germany, the Netherlands, and France also have records of the name. It is also found in other countries that share a border with Germany, like Switzerland, Scandinavia, and Luxembourg.
In the United States, the last name is found in small pockets in Buffalo, New York and Topeka, Kansas. While it is not particularly common in the United States, it can be found in various records and immigration documents dating as far back as the 19th century.
The origin of the name itself is unclear, though it is believed to be of Middle High German origin, deriving from "lintreic". It can be translated to mean small ruler or small leader.
Overall, the last name Kleineheinrich is rare in comparison to other more popular last names in those countries, but it can still be found in records in the northern parts of Europe and in some parts of the United States.
Variations of the surname Kleineheinrich
The surname Kleineheinrich is a German-origin surname which is derived from two words joined together which literally mean ‘small’ and ‘Henry’ respectively. The variations and spellings of the surname are also numerous.
Variants of the surname Kleineheinrich include Kleineheinric, Kleinehenrich, Kleinehienrich, Kleineheinric, Kleineheenrich, Kleineheenric, Kleinheinrich, Kleinheinric, Kleineeinrich, Kleinheenrich, Kleinehinnrich, Kleineheinritz, Kleinehainrich, Kleinhenrich, Kleinheenric, Kleineiannrich, Kleinheinritz and more.
The surname Kleineheinrich is also found in other parts of Europe. In Poland, the surname is known as Kleinhenryk, Kleinehenek, Kleinehenryk and Kleinhenrych. In Germany, the variants Kleinheinrich, Kleinhainrich, Kleinehainrich, Kleinehienrich, Kleinehienric, Kleineheenric and Kleineheinritz are commonly seen.
Variations of the surname found in Switzerland are Kleinhenry, Kleinhainry, Kleinehainry, Kleinehienry, Kleinehienrych and Kleineheenrych. The Netherlands also have variants, such as Kleinhenrick, Kleynheinrick, Kleineheenrick, Kleinnheinrick and Kleynheenrick.
In France the variants include Kleinhenri, Kleinhainri, Kleinnheinri, Kleinehainri, Kleinehienri, Kleinehienriq and Kleineheenri. In Austria the variations can be Kleinehainreich, Kleinehienreich, Kleineheenreich and Kleineheinreich.
Finally, the surname Kleineheinrich can also be found in Denmark in the forms Kleinhenrik, Kleinhainrik, Kleinnheinrik, Kleinehainrik, Kleinehienrik and Kleineheenrik.
Famous people with the name Kleineheinrich
- Hannah Kleineheinrich: A Swiss long-distance runner and former sportswoman of the year in 2011.
- Reinhold Kleineheinrich: A German goalkeeper who played for clubs such as TSV 1860 München and VfL Bochum.
- Tim Kleineheinrich: A German footballer who works as a consultant for the DFB, the German Football Association.
- Peter Kleineheinrich: A professional jockey who competed in the German Grand National for 22 years.
- Werner Kleineheinrich: A German artist who exhibited his works at multiple galleries and museums throughout Germany.
- Jürgen Kleineheinrich: A German actor who is best known for his critically acclaimed role in the television series "The Inspector's Inn".
- Theodor Kleineheinrich: A German-born composer and conductor who taught music theory and composition at several different universities.
- Axel Kleineheinrich: A retired German cyclist who competed in numerous international track and road races.
- Sabine Kleineheinrich: A German opera singer who has performed at prestigious venues such as the Berliner Philharmonie and the National Opera of Rome.
- Petar Kleineheinrich: A Croatian professional volleyball player who plays for the Croatian National Team.