Surname Kleinwechter - Meaning and Origin
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Kleinwechter: What does the surname Kleinwechter mean?
The last name Kleinwechter is of German origin. The name is derived from the words ‘klein’, meaning small, and ‘wechter’, meaning carrier. This was likely an occupational name, referring to a person who was a small trader, likely traveling from town to town to sell goods. Over time this name evolved into Kleinwechter.
The name could also have been derived from someone who lived in a small village, as the word ‘wechter’ also means inhabitant. This would describe someone who grew up in a small, rural village.
This last name is most common in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Hamburg in Germany. It is also a popular name in Switzerland, suggesting that the Kleinwechters could be a family with Swiss-German roots.
The surname Kleinwechter is rare and many people with the name are believed to be descended from the same family. It is likely that the Kleinwechters originated in one particular region and have since spread throughout Germany and beyond.
The name Kleinwechter today likely symbolizes hardworking ancestors who were traders and small-town inhabitants, and has become part of the family’s unique heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisKleinwechter: Where does the name Kleinwechter come from?
The last name Kleinwechter is common today primarily in Germany and in areas where German-speaking immigrants settled, including parts of Eastern Europe, South America, and the United States.
The recent global population of the Kleinwechter surname is estimated to be around 13,000 people, most of whom live in Germany. According to the German Central Register of Place Names, it is the 187th most common last name in the country. Other areas with higher concentrations of Kleinwechter families include Poland, Austria, and the United Kingdom.
The earlier forms of the Kleinwechter family name can be traced back to Germany in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The name was derived from small villages in the Rheinland (Rhine region) and was adopted to distinguish between branches of the same family who lived in different villages.
In the United States, Kleinwechter families can be found primarily in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, and California. Some early immigrants fought in the Revolutionary War, and the family can also be found settling in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Nebraska, among other states where the German-speaking population is concentrated.
The Kleinwechter family has a strong lineage originating from Germany that extends around the globe. While much of the population still resides in the Rheinland region, the name is increasingly common elsewhere as well.
Variations of the surname Kleinwechter
Kleinwechter is a German and Jewish surname, derived from Middle High German kleín, meaning "small", and wechter, meaning "guardian" or "watchman". It is most commonly found in the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
Common variants of Kleinwechter include Kleinewechter, Kleincwechter, Klewechter, Kliene/Kleyne/Kleine/Klieine/Klieene Wechter, Kleinenwechter, and Kleinwecheter. Any of these variants, in addition to the original name, can be found in records going back many centuries.
Jewish surnames such as Kleinwechter may have multiple spellings on records from various areas. This is because families often adopted the spelling of their surname used by the local community. Therefore, in addition to seeing variant spellings of Kleinwechter, one might also see spellings that reflect the local language. The surname might appear as Klajnwchter in Yiddish, or Kolemvaker in Slavic languages such as Polish and Ukrainian.
Surnames of similar origin and meaning, but not directly related to Kleinwechter, include Kleine, Kleinteich, Kleinschmidt, Kleintopf, Kleinsasser, and Kleinger. Another related name is Kleyn, which is Dutch for "small".
Famous people with the name Kleinwechter
- Goos Kaufmann Kleinwechter: Goos Kaufmann Kleinwechter is a professional dancer in the Netherlands. He has choreographed for various productions, including Aida, Cats and Empire of the Sun.
- Philippe Kleinwechter: Philippe Kleinwechter is an Olympic sailor from France who competed in the 1988 Seoul Games.
- Rasmus Kleinwechter: Rasmus Kleinwechter is a Danish prosthetic technician whose works have been featured in the Museum of Modern Art in Amsterdam.
- Marchesa Kleinwechter: Marchesa Kleinwechter is a Spanish jewelry designer who has been featured in the fashion publication Vogue.
- Pia Kleinwechter: Pia Kleinwechter was a German journalist who worked for the newspaper Die Welt.
- Klaus Kleinwechter: Klaus Kleinwechter is an Austrian politician who was the former Minister of Environment and Water Management.
- Christophe Kleinwechter: Christophe Kleinwechter is a French art director and graphic designer.
- Ellen Kleinwechter: Ellen Kleinwechter is a Dutch abstract artist whose works have been exhibited around the world.
- Sarina Kleinwechter: Sarina Kleinwechter is an American photographer who specializes in landscape and portrait photography.
- Julian Kleinwechter: Julian Kleinwechter is an Australian musician and multi-instrumentalist who has been featured in Rolling Stone magazine.