Surname Klingmann - Meaning and Origin

Klingmann: What does the surname Klingmann mean?

The last name Klingmann is of German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) origin, and may have originated from the German word "Klinge", which means "sword blade". Alternatively, the name may derive from the German word "Klinge", which means chime or bell. The Klingmann surname has been associated with many well-known families, including the prominent Silesian family of Klingmanns. In the 16th century, Johannes Klingmann founded the Klingmann family, and it is believed that he was the first of the Klingmann name in Germany.

The Klingmann name is a patronymic surname, which means it is derived from the first name of an ancestor. This is indicated by the ending -mann, which means "son of". In this case, Klingmann would mean "son of Klinge" or "son of Klinge". This paternal name is quite common in the area of southern Germany/Austria. Some Klingmanns have branched out and settled elsewhere in Europe, most notably in England and the United States.

Klingmann is an occupational name, denoting someone who made bells, swords or perhaps tinkers, as the German word Klinge also means metal sounder. Klingmann is among the top 300 most common surnames in Germany, with a population of over 5 million Klingmanns. The Klingmann name is also prevalent in the United States, where it is the 439th most common surname, with approximately 33,000 families bearing the name.

Klingmann: Where does the name Klingmann come from?

The last name Klingmann is most common in Germany. According to the Behind the Name website, Klingmann is the 883rd most common last name in Germany. In 2019, there were about 8,795 people registered with the last name Klingmann in Germany.

Out of Germany, Klingmann is less common. Within Europe, it is most common in the Netherlands. Beyond Europe, the last name is relatively rare. In the United States, for example, the name Klingmann is seen as an uncommon last name. In 2019, the United States Census reported only 135 people with the last name Klingmann in the United States.

In Australia, the name Klingmann is extremely rare. According to the Australian Electoral Commission, there are currently no registered voters with the last name Klingmann. Likewise, the last name Klingmann is not provided as an option on many Australian census forms.

Thus, the last name Klingmann is most common in Germany and is not common outside of Europe. As of 2019, the surname is not common in the United States or Australia.

Variations of the surname Klingmann

Klingmann is a German surname, and is likely to have been derived from a late medieval personal name Kling, which is also seen written as Klaing or Kluing.

The origin of the first name is unclear but could be derived from a combination of the old German adjectives “klug” and “mann” which together mean “a clever man”. It could also be of occupational origin and could have described someone who worked at or ran a “Klingel” or bell foundry.

Klingmann is most commonly used for people of German descent, but there are different variations and spellings that also exist.

Variations of the name include Klingemann, Klingemannn, Klingenmann, Klingenmen, Klinkmann, Klinkman, Klinkmann, Klynkmann, Klynkman, Klinckmann, Klinckman, Kellingmann, Kellingman, and Kwlingman.

Surnames related to Klingmann are Klangmann, Klamann, Klammann, Klaimann, Klaumann, Klemme, Kleinmann, Kleinschmidt, Klint, Klinzmann and Klebstoff.

Although the surnames share a common origin, Klingmann families should not be confused with names such as Klein or Klinger, as these could be derived from other sources.

Famous people with the name Klingmann

• Marlene Klingmann: Austrian film editor and television director
• Leni Klingmann: German actress
• Mathias Klingmann: German professional golfer
• Felix Klingmann: German poet and librarian
• Ludwig Klingmann: German Benefits Officer
• Karl Klingmann: German theologian
• Mona Klingmann: German pianist
• James Klingmann: English organist and composer
• Thomas Klingmann: Swedish Army Lieutenant General
• Heddy Klingmann: Austrian writer
• Christoph Klingmann: German operatic baritone
• Daniel Klingmann: Austrian composer and teacher
• Fritz Klingmann: German stage and film actor
• Ian Klingmann: Canadian-American former professional ice hockey player
• Scott Klingmann: American former professional baseball player

Other surnames

Klingman