Surname Kleinhardt - Meaning and Origin
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Kleinhardt: What does the surname Kleinhardt mean?
The last name Kleinhardt comes from either German or Jewish origins, and has several possible meanings. In German, “Klein” means small or little and “hardt” means hard or brave. Therefore, one interpretation of the name Kleinhardt is “small and brave” or “little and brave.” Alternatively, the name could come from the German words “kleiner” meaning little and “hart” meaning hard or strong. In this interpretation, the name could mean “little and strong” or “small and strong.”
The Jewish version of the name Kleinhardt is believed to come from the Yiddish word “Kleynhardt,” meaning brave or powerful. In this interpretation, the name could mean “brave and strong” or “powerful and strong.”
Regardless of the origin of the name, the meaning of Kleinhardt is believed to reflect a strong, brave or powerful individual. Therefore, anyone bearing the Kleinhardt name is likely to be associated with strength, bravery and power.
Order DNA origin analysisKleinhardt: Where does the name Kleinhardt come from?
The last name Kleinhardt is most common today in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. This surname is especially prevalent in Germany; in 2013, it was the 36th most common surname in the country, with over 84,000 citizens with the last name Kleinhardt. The population of people with the last name varies greatly depending on which region is looked at, with slightly higher prevalence in the southern and southwestern parts of the country.
The surname Kleinhardt may have its roots in Middle High German, where the surname means “small courtyard” or “little garden”. Additionally, the Kleinhardt is a common element in Jewish surnames. Furthermore, some historians believe that the name originated as a habitation name, meaning that it indicated where someone lived. This could explain why the name is so common in Germany, as many of the smaller villages in Germany trace their roots back to early settlements of this region.
Today, the Kleinhardt’s have spread across the world, with many other countries around the world, such as Canada, the United States, France, the Netherlands, and many more, home to this surname. Though people bearing the last name Kleinhardt can be found across the world, the highest concentration of this surname remains in Germany and other German-speaking countries.
Variations of the surname Kleinhardt
The surname Kleinhardt is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word “kleinhard,” which translates to “small-strong.” Variants of the name Kleinhardt include Kleinhard, Klenhardt, Kleihard, Kleinardt, Kleinart, Kleinert and Kleinerdt. Spellings for the surname Kleinhardt include Kleihardt, Cleinhardt, Kleindhardt, Kleinhard, Kleinhort and Kleinorf. Surnames of the same origin as Kleinhardt, include Klein, Kleist, Kleinhans and Kleiner.
Kleinhardt is a common surname throughout Germany and is found in a number of regions, including Bavaria, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. It has also become a popular surname in Austria, Switzerland and parts of the United States and Canada. It is relatively rare in the UK, although there are some records of the surname in the East Midlands.
The various spellings and surnames of the same origin as Kleinhardt can be tracked using online genealogy databases and records. In particular, ancestry.com is a good resource for tracing the surnames and spellings, as it offers a variety of records and allows users to search for a particular name.
Famous people with the name Kleinhardt
- Anthony Kleinhardt, retired racing driver and Queensland Hall of Famer.
- August Kleinhardt, German athlete and the first event-specific world record holder in track and field.
- Sebastian Kleinhardt, German footballer who plays for Hertha BSC in the Bundesliga.
- Charles Kleinhardt, American inventor who invented the clamp meter.
- Jim Kleinhardt, founding member of the American-based television production company Renegade 83.
- Ludwig Kleinhardt, German classical composer who dedicated several operas to the court of Louis XIV of France.
- Scott Kleinhardt, Canadian singer-songwriter who is a four-time Juno Award winner.
- Cora Kleinhardt, Dutch writer of books for children.
- David Kleinhardt, Late American race car driver, winner of the 1985 Indianapolis Firestone Indy Lights Championship.
- Max Kleinhardt, German cellist, composer, and conductor.