Surname Kleinschmid - Meaning and Origin
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Kleinschmid: What does the surname Kleinschmid mean?
Kleinschmid is a German-language surname derived from Kleinschmidt, which means “little smith”. The name refers to a manual labourer who worked with metals and was a part of the “smith” trade. This trade dates back to ancient times and was commonly practiced in Europe. Smiths were responsible for the production, repair, and maintenance of tools and equipment made from metal such as weapons, horseshoes, and furniture among other items. The Kleinschmid name suggests that those who originally had this name were part of this trade at some point.
The powers of a ‘smith’ went beyond simply working with metals; their talent was respected as they were capable of producing items of quality and craftsmanship. It is believed that those with the Kleinschmid surname have ancestors who exhibited a great deal of talent. This could be seen in the skill with which they worked.
The surname also was used as an occupational name to distinguish between different generations of the same family. This suggests that the Kleinschmid name has a long history of arising from successful careers and hard work.
Today, the surname Kleinschmid is primarily found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland although it is also found in other countries as well. There are people of this surname living in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the world as well. It is likely that those who have the surname are descended from ancestors who began the ‘smith’ trade and maintained the name in successive generations.
Order DNA origin analysisKleinschmid: Where does the name Kleinschmid come from?
The last name Kleinschmid is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The surname is of German origin, derived from a combination of the German words for ‘small’ and ‘adviser’ or ‘counselor’. It is likely that the first bearer of the name was a small-scale advisor or councilor in a local community.
In Germany, the surname is most concentrated in the states of Bavaria and Thuringia, as well as the city-state of Berlin. It is also widespread in the city of Dresden and, to a lesser extent, Leipzig.
In Austria, records indicate that the name was most common in the 19th century in the states of Lower Austria and Vienna. Today, the surname is most commonly found in the city of Vienna.
In Switzerland, Kleinschmid is most frequently found in the cantons of Vaud, Bern, and Aargau. The surname is also common in the cities of Zurich, Basel, and Geneva.
The frequency of Kleinschmid outside of German speaking countries is lower. In the United States there were 471 people living under this surname as of the 2010 census. Furthermore, it also can be found in smaller numbers in countries such as France, Russia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Kleinschmid
Kleinschmid is a German surname derived from Kleinschmidt, which means “little smith”. The surname can also be spelled Klein Schmid, Kleinschmied, Klein Schmied, Kleinschmitt, Klein Schmitt, Kleinschmiedt, Klein Schmiedt, and Kleinschmit.
Various variants of Klein Schmid have been found throughout Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. In the regional dialects, Klein Schmied often becomes Kleis, Kleiss, Klein, Kley, Klay, Kohl, Kritch, Kriz, Kratz, and Speidel. In the Austrian dialect, Klein Schmand or Kleinschmand is also used.
In some areas, additions to the surname have also been made. In the Palatinate, Kleinschmidt has become Kleinschmittl. The Swabian dialect has also added additional spellings, such as Klenz and Klärz.
In the United States, Klein Schmid is usually spelled Kleinschmidt. Other spelling variants that have been found in America include Kleinsmith, Kleismidt, Kleismith, Kleesmith, and Kleissmidt.
All of these variants are typically considered the same surname with the same origin. However, due to regional differences in dialects over the centuries, numerous spellings have been adopted. Ultimately, all of these spellings and versions of the Kleinschmid surname share a common ancestor.
Famous people with the name Kleinschmid
- Brock Kleinschmidt: professional soccer player, who is currently signed with Saint Louis FC.
- Adam Kleinschmidt: retired Paralympic cyclist, who earned several medals in his career.
- Rudy Kleinschmidt: American actor, best known for his role in the TV series The Fosters.
- Tim Kleinschmidt: German film director, editor and screenwriter.
- Martin Kleinschmidt: German artist, best known for his abstract paintings.
- Nathaniel Kleinschmidt: retired American football star, who played in the NFL from 1998 to 2003.
- Marco Kleinschmidt: professional hockey player, who is currently playing for the Hamburg Freezers in the German DEL.
- Alexander Kleinschmidt: German musician and composer who has provided music for a variety of films and TV shows.
- Robert Kleinschmidt: American television producer, best known for his work on the show Friends.
- Peter Kleinschmidt: a Yugoslavian born sculptor, who has exhibited his work all over the world.