Surname Kleinsteuber - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kleinsteuber: What does the surname Kleinsteuber mean?
The last name Kleinsteuber is of German origin. It comes from old German words meaning “small” or “tiny” and from “steuber” meaning “street” or “dwelling”. Taken together, the name can be roughly translated to mean “small dwelling”, probably referring to a humble farmhouse.
Given its original meaning, it is not surprising that individuals with the Kleinsteuber surname can be traced back to rural areas of the former German Empire, now encompassed in prominent European nations such as the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. As the name spread, Kleinsteubers have been found in Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Russia, Scandinavia, and other countries in the world today.
The Kleinsteuber surname is often borne by members of the farming or peasant class, which was the most populous sector of the population in times past. This was typical of most European societies before the Industrial Revolution, when those in rural areas were largely farmers. Whether their families are still dedicated to the land or are now involved businesses, professions, and trades in urban settings, many Kleinsteubers carry a sense of pride for their family’s strong ties to the rural sector of society.
Order DNA origin analysisKleinsteuber: Where does the name Kleinsteuber come from?
The last name Kleinsteuber is most commonly found in Germany, where it is derived from a nickname for a small or thin person. It is also known to have originated in regions that span from Austria to the Czech Republic. Kleinsteuber is particularly numerous in Bavaria, where it can be traced to the 17th century. The name is also found in Eastern Europe, primarily Poland, and Italy.
Today it is estimated that there are approximately 1,000 people worldwide with the surname Kleinsteuber, mostly located in the Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, and Italy. The surname is most popular in the US in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where there are a few hundred Kleinsteubers. Other places that have seen significant levels of migration include Ohio, Minnesota and New Jersey.
As Germany began to expand in the 1800s, many families bearing the Kleinsteuber name emigrated to the US to start a new life. Later on, numerous Kleinsteubers moved to South America when Nazi Germany rose to power in the 1930s. Kleinsteubers can also be found in the United Kingdom and Canada, though in smaller numbers.
Given their Bavarian origin, it is likely that many Kleinsteubers can trace their ancestry back to the same family. They may even have lived in the same small village at one point, forging a unique bond between them. No matter where they have spread around the world, it is likely that Kleinsteubers everywhere can still trace some of their history back to their common origin.
Variations of the surname Kleinsteuber
Kleinsteuber is a German surname and is derived from the words klein (small) and staub (dust/soot). It is generally believed that this name originated from someone who worked in either a chimney sweep or coal-mining capacity.
Variant spellings and surnames of Kleinsteuber include Kleinstouber, Kleinstoiber, Kleinstaub, Kleinstaubers, Kleinstaeuber, Kleinstaugh, Kleinstaubers, Kleinstouber, Kleinstoubers and Kleinsteuber. One might also find it spelled as Kline (e.g. Kline-Vaubers).
In other parts of the world, this surname probably evolved to different spellings and surnames. For example, Kleinstouber might sometimes be found as Kleinvauber, Kleinvaulber, Kleinsvauber, Kleinsvaulber or Kleinsvawer. Kleinsteubes could also be found as Kleinsteubers, Kleinstueber, Kleinstuber, Kleinsteuberrs, Kleinsteubers, Kleinsteubre, Kleinsteueber and Kleinsteuebr.
Kleinsteuber is also associated with spellings and surnames found in different countries, such as Kleiningstuber in Austria, Kleinstubor in France and Kleinstueber and Kleinstubur in Germany. In the United States and Canada, one might encounter spellings and surnames that have evolved to Kleinsteub in the U.S., Kleinstubor in Canada, and Klinstarber or Klinestarber in both.
In addition, Kleinstäuber (with the umlaut over the "a" in the middle) is one version of Kleinsteuber which is also found in some countries, most notably Germany. Finally, Kleinsteuber can also be found in different ways with prefixes, such as Hinkleinsteuber (Hin being the German prefix for “from”).
Famous people with the name Kleinsteuber
- Damian Kleinsteuber: German racecar driver and team principal from the Deutsche Tourenwagen Championship.
- Alexander Kleinsteuber: German biathlete and Olympian, competing for Germany at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.
- Caroline Kleinsteuber: German fashion designer and author.
- Steffen Kleinsteuber: Professor of applied Artificial Intelligence at the University of Freiburg.
- Linda Kleinsteuber: German judoka and competitor in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
- Ulrich Kleinsteuber: German actor, best known for his roles in the films Schtonk!, The Kurt Müller Story and The Counterfeiters.
- Johannes Kleinsteuber: German bodybuilder and entrepreneur.
- Kristine Kleinsteuber: German volleyball player and current member of the Germany's Women's National Team.
- Jens Kleinsteuber: German muralist and street artist, whose works can be found in galleries around the world.
- Robert Kleinsteuber: German Formula 1 driver and racecar constructor.