Surname Kleiner - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
iGENEA DNA Test: A Journey Down Ancestral Paths & Redefining the Kleiner Surname+
Stepping into the realm of my genetic makeup with iGENEA DNA, I discovered my incredibly diverse lineage attached to the Kleiner surname, radically altering my perception of our family identity. Embracing this uniqueness, I've developed a more integrative perspective of my familial heritage.
K. Kleiner
read moreKleiner: What does the surname Kleiner mean?
Kleiner is a German surname, derived from the Middle High German word “kleine” meaning “small” or “little”. At the time it was originally adopted as a surname, it was primarily used to signify someone of small stature or a junior member of a family. The name was likely taken on either to distinguish junior members of the family or to indicate a family which was comprised of small individuals.
Throughout the centuries, the popularly of the surname has ebbed and flowed, and over time it increasingly became associated with petite, delicate persons; soon, any person with the Kleiner surname was assumed to be in possession of such soft, small features. Today, the surname continues to hold such connotations, as do a few other variations of the name including Kleine, Klein, and Kleinman.
Most commonly found in Germany and its former territories, the Kleiner surname can also be found elsewhere in the world, including Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, and the United States. Immigrants with the surname first arrived in the United States in the mid-nineteenth century, and have since made their homes wherever their kin had come before.
Order DNA origin analysisKleiner: Where does the name Kleiner come from?
The last name Kleiner is primarily found in Germany and Central and Eastern European countries. It is a commonly occurring surname in countries such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Belarus, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Russia, and Poland, as well as Jewish communities within those nations.
In the United States, the surname Kleiner can be found primarily in Jewish American communities, especially in the Northeastern region. In the United Kingdom, it is mainly found in London, but also in other areas such as Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, and Glasgow. Around the world, the last name Kleiner is becoming increasingly common among Jewish people.
In addition to Jewish people, the Kleiner surname is also found within Swiss communities, Germany and Austria. In the United States the number of people bearing the Kleiner surname is relatively small, but is still present. It is theorized that the Kleiner family first became established in Germany where it gained popularity in the early nineteenth century.
The origin of the Kleiner name is not clear, with some believing it is derived from the German language, meaning “small”, while others believe it is of Ashkenazi origin. The Kleiner name is an ancient one, with high levels of genetic diversity and is still in existence over a wide geographical area today.
Variations of the surname Kleiner
The surname Kleiner is a common German and Jewish surname and is derived from the Middle High German word ‘Klein’, meaning ‘small’ or ‘little’. The most well-known variant and spelling of the surname is Klein, and its derivatives Klayn and Kleyn. In some areas it is also spelt Cliner, or Kleyner, or Clajner in Yiddish.
Other variants and spellings of the original surname Kleiner include Kleiner, Kleinen, Klenen, Klenner, Klemen, Kleaner, Kleannah, Kleinerr, Kleinerrach, Klemenz, Klimen, Klimner, Klinen, Kline, Kleines, Kleinstein, Kleiven, Kleynen, Klien, Kliener, Klimer, Klimmer, Klüner, Knyliner, Knylyn, Knylen, Knylner, and Knylnor.
In the United States, the Kleiner surname is often found in its various forms spelled with the suffix ‘er’ including Kleiner, Klinner, Klienert, Klier, Klinzer, Kleinerth, Klimerth, Kleier, Klier, Kleers, Klees and Kleiners. The surname can be further shortened to become variants such as Kle, Klien and Kin.
Jewish people have their own distinct spelling of the surname Kleiner. Such as Klein, Khaynl, Khaisrl, Klaynel, Khaistl, Khaishl, and Khoynl. Other Jewish variants include Klain, Klainer, Kshlainer, Kshneyer, Klener, Klainer, Kleyner, and Kshnei.
Famous people with the name Kleiner
- Max Kleiner: Swiss graphic designer, cartoonist and writer
- Robert Kleiner: Austrian painter
- Helmut Kleiner: Austrian entomologist
- Salomon Kleiner: Bohemian-Austrian rabbi and authority on Jewish law
- Lucius Kleiner: German automotive engineer
- Marvin Kleiner: American Aeronautical engineer
- Oliver Kleiner: German television journalist and presenter
- Robert Kleiner: Austrian landscape painter
- Sylvia Kleiner: German Film Director
- Thomas Kleiner: Austrian philosopher and professor of philosophy