Surname Kleinschmidt - Meaning and Origin
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read moreKleinschmidt: What does the surname Kleinschmidt mean?
The German surname Kleinschmidt is derived from the German word "Klein," meaning small, and "Schmidt," referring to a person who works as a blacksmith. This surname most likely originated in the Middle Ages and would have been borne by a craftsman who was a skilled blacksmith or someone who worked with metal tools.
The Kleinschmidt surname became popular throughout Europe during the Middle Ages when guilds of metal smiths began to form around the cities and towns. In early documents the name began to appear along with other names that were derived from occupations such as farriers, or tinsmiths.
The spelling and pronunciation of the Kleinschmidt surname has evolved over time, with different variations being used in different regions. In some areas the name could be spelled Kleinschmitt, Klein Schmid, Kleinschmiedt or even Schmidtlein.
Today, there are many thousands of people in Europe and the Americas who carry the Kleinschmidt surname, though it is most commonly found in Germany. The name is also associated with celebrities such as former U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower, actor Arena Kleinschmidt, and German footballer Kevin Kleinschmidt.
Order DNA origin analysisKleinschmidt: Where does the name Kleinschmidt come from?
The Kleinschmidt name is most commonly found today in Germany, and more specifically in the Rhineland area. The name is thought to have originated from Lower Saxony, where it was most commonly found among merchants and traders in the 19th century.
Nowadays, the name is still mainly found in Germany. According to FamilySearch.org, the largest concentration of the surname can be found in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria. Smaller concentrations of Kleinschmidt can also be found throughout other parts of Europe, particularly in Austria, Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic.
In the United States, the name is scattered across the country. According to the US Census Bureau, the number of Americans with the surname Kleinschmidt was the highest in Texas, followed by Ohio, California, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and New York. In Texas, the largest concentration of the surname can be found in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area.
One of the reasons why the Kleinschmidt name is fairly common today is due to its German origins. As Germany has experienced a population boom during the last few decades, the surname has become even more widespread. Additionally, many Germans have since emigrated to the United States, which has resulted in a significant increase in Kleinschmidts in the US.
Variations of the surname Kleinschmidt
The surname Kleinschmidt is derived from German, meaning 'a small blacksmith'. This surname can be spelled in different ways, including Klein(e)schmidt, Kleinschmid(t), Klein(e)schmid(t), Kleinsmit(h) and Kleinsmit(h). It is also common to find anglicized variants, such as Smallsmith and Smallsmiths. While these may be used by some bearers of the surname, they do not alter the origin of the name.
Kleinschmidt is a patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name. This means that one might find various versions of this surname if their ancestor had a first name that could be translated into German. For example, if someone's ancestor's name was John, they might find Kleinschmidt, Kleinsmidt, Kleinschmitt, or Kleinschmied. Similarly, Michael may be translated into Kleinschmiedt, Kleinschmidt, or even Kleinschmeid. It is also important to note that some regions and cultures have their own variation of the surname, so it may be necessary to search for more than one spelling.
Kleinschmidt is also found as a family name in some parts of Europe, and in those cases it may be spelled differently. In Austria, it can be found as Klein(e)schmitt, Kleinschmid, Kleinsmid, Kleinsmith, and Kleinsmit(h). In Poland, it is commonly spelled as Klejnszmidt, Klejnszmidt, Klein(e)szmidt, and Kleinczmit, and in Finland, it is often spelled Klemensmith.
It is also important to keep in mind that the surname Kleinschmidt may have derived from other languages as well, and may also have alternative spellings. For instance, in Spanish, Kleinschmidt may be spelled as smellsmith, while in French it may be spelled as tiensmit(h). In addition, some variants may even combine the two languages. An example of this is Clemansmit, which is a combination of both French and English.
Overall, the surname Kleinschmidt is an evolution of an ancestor's given name, and may be spelled differently in different cultures and regions. It is important to remember that there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for this surname, and it may be necessary to search for various spellings in order to find the correct one.
Famous people with the name Kleinschmidt
- Pete Kleinschmidt: Former Major League Baseball player
- Rick Kleinschmidt: Retired professional hockey player
- Danielle Kleinschmidt: Actress and model
- Gustav Kleinschmidt: Revolutionary artist
- Joachim Kleinschmidt: German rower and champion
- William Kleinschmidt: German doctor and composer
- Gisbert Kleinschmidt: German politician
- Dieter Kleinschmidt: Former German football player
- Josephine Kleinschmidt: Social worker and philanthropist
- Alexander Kleinschmidt: German medical doctor and naturalist