Surname Kleinle - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kleinle: What does the surname Kleinle mean?
The last name Kleinle is of German origin and is thought to be an occupational surname. It is derived from the Middle High German word ‘klinc’, which translates to ‘a little one’ or ‘small’. As an occupational surname, Kleinle would have originally been held by someone who practiced a small-scale craft or trade. Such crafts could include metalworking, farming, milling, construction, and jewelry-making. Over the centuries, the meaning of the name has shifted slightly, giving rise to its modern interpretation as Kleinle, which can be translated to mean ‘little and small’.
The surname Kleinle is also thought to have been used to denote an affinity for little, insignificant things, though it can also be interpreted as meaning someone who is small or slender in stature. This interpretation makes sense given the literal meaning of the name, and could suggest that the original bearer of the name had a petite build.
The frequency of the last name has varied over the years, though it appears that it peaked in popularity in Germany, with many occurrences reported in various parts of the country during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is still used in Germany today, although its popularity has declined significantly. It is also found in other parts of Europe as well as in North America.
Order DNA origin analysisKleinle: Where does the name Kleinle come from?
Kleinle is a Germanic, Ashkenazi Jewish last name. It is most common today in Germany and in other areas of northern and eastern Europe with a large Ashkenazi Jewish population. In the United States, the last name Kleinle is concentrated in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Pennsylvania, which have historically large communities of Ashkenazi Jews. Kleinle is also becoming more prevalent in other states on the East Coast, though still in lower numbers than other parts of the country. The name can be found in less expected areas as well, such as in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, France, Israel, and states in the Midwest. With the globalization and technological advancements of our times, it is possible that Kleinle is now spread to other areas of the world as well.
Variations of the surname Kleinle
Kleinle is a German and Jewish surname with numerous spellings and variants. One spelling is Kleynle, which is composed of the common German prefix “Kle” meaning “small” and the common German suffix “-le” meaning “one”. Klynle, Kleknle, Kleinkla and Kleinkli are also variations of the same surname. In the Jewish diaspora, Kleinle has been adapted with the suffixes “-er” and “-man”, and variants of the surname appear in American population records, for instance Klenker and Klenzman. Variants appear in other countries including Kleynlee in Holland, Kleinler and Kleinlerer in Hungary, Kleinkley in Austria, Kleinleau in France, Kleinlee in Switzerland, Klainle in Brazil, Kleinrell in UK, and Kleinleer in the Netherlands.
The variants of the surname are all relatively close phonetically, and different forms of the name likely reflect the fact that many people with the surname Kleinle had not been literate enough to spell the name accurately when their origin was recorded and documented. During previous centuries, spelling conventions were not strictly enforced, and the surname thus changed due to various individual errors. As people moved around parts of the world, the variants took on different pronunciations, leading to the different spelling forms. Therefore, it is likely that all variations of Kleinle are related and of the same German origin.
Famous people with the name Kleinle
- Alfred Kleinle: Austrian figure skater and ski jumper, four time figure skating world champion
- Gottfried Kleinle: Austrian engineer and inventor best known for the Kleinle steam motor
- Nate Kleinle: American Instagram comedian and influencer
- Monika Kleinle: German Olympic sprinter
- Johannes Kleinle: German composer and flautist
- Hannah Kleinle: British Actress
- Ralph Kleinle: American football player
- Kurt Kleinle: Swiss archer, winner of a bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics
- Peter Kleinle: Austrian civil engineer
- Jakob Kleinle:Hebrew and Yiddish writer