Surname Heinkelein - Meaning and Origin
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Heinkelein: What does the surname Heinkelein mean?
The last name Heinkelein (also occasionally spelled Henkelein, Henkel, Henkle, and Hinkle) is derived from a Germanic and Dutch word meaning “Little Henry”, originating from the pre 7th Century given name “Heinric”. During the Middle Ages, Heinric was one of the most popular given names among the ancient German people. Ultimately derived from the word “heim”, meaning “home”, as well as “ric”, meaning “power” or “ruler”, literally translating into “ruler of the home”.
Given this origin, the surname Heinkelein can be roughly translated to mean “Little Henry”, and likely referred to a son or descendant of a Henry. This could likely refer to any number of generations. It could refer to the son of a Henry of the same generation as the bearer of the surname, or it could even refer to the great-grandson of a Henry from a previous generation.
Furthermore, the surname could also be used to differentiate two people who shared the same given name (Henry). The use of “Heinkelein” as a last name would therefore help individuals distinguish between each other in legal, business and social situations.
In the present day, the surname is a unique and popular choice among mostly German-speaking regions of Europe. In the US, Heinkelein is a particularly rare surname and is likely to have derived from one of the (assumedly few) German immigrants who settled in the States during the late 19th Century.
Order DNA origin analysisHeinkelein: Where does the name Heinkelein come from?
The surname Heinkelein is most commonly found today in Germany, where it is one of the top 200 surnames. According to surname databases, it originated in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany and is believed to be derived from the personal names Heine and Klein, meaning 'little Heine'.
Outside Germany, the last name may be found scattered throughout Europe, North America, and Latin America. Alternatively spelled Heinkelein, Henkelein, Henkel, Heinke, Heinkel, or Henkelmann, those with the Heinkelein surname typically have ancestry in common, being related to one another within several generations.
The surname Heinkelein is thought to have been introduced to North America in the 18th or 19th centuries, with most American namesakes having emigrated from Germany or Austria. With the surname being one of the top 200 German surnames, many with the last name Heinkelein or its variations can be found in many U.S. states, such as Wisconsin, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York, among others.
Additionally, the Heinkelein surname is also found in other parts of the world, mostly in countries with German immigrants, such as Canada and Brazil. Many of those who have the last name live in large cities, and it is estimated that around 2,000 people in the world bear the last name Heinkelein or its variations.
Variations of the surname Heinkelein
The surname Heinkelein has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Heinkelein is a surname originating from the Germanic language. It may be spelled as Heinckelein, Heinklein, Hainckelein, Heinklein, Hainckelein, Hainklein, Haincklein, Heyncklein, Heinklein, Heinckel, Heyneckel, Heicklein, Hainklein and Heincke. The spelling of this surname was often changed in documents when it was copied or translated throughout history.
This surname is also connected to other surnames with the same origin. It is associated with surnames such as Heinecke, Heinicke, Frommecke, Fommecke, Frennecke, Fronnecke, Fick, Fricke, Heinckels, Heinckelmann, Gfincke, Gfinckel, and Gfinckelmann.
The spelling of the surname also changes in various languages. In Dutch, for example, the spelling would be Heijncklein or Heynekelein. In Low German, it would be Heinklin, Hainkin or Haynkin. In Yiddish, it would be Heinchel or Heinchele. The spelling has also been adapted to various English-speaking countries, such as Hainkline, Haynklin, and Heynkline.
The variations of this surname are plentiful, but they all have the same origin.
Famous people with the name Heinkelein
- Werner C.A. Heinz-Auhorn-Heinkelein: An Austrian politician and physician who was a Member of the National Council of Austria from 2008 to 2013.
- Johann Ludwig Heinkelein: was a German military officer during the 18th century, taking part in the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War.
- Arnold Heinkelein: A German surgeon, best known for inventing the 'Heinkelein inoculator', a medical instrument used to inject oils or syrups into the bloodstream.
- Werner Peter Heinkelein: A German physicist and mathematician, best known for his work on the theory of relativity, which he developed along with Albert Einstein.
- Ernst Heinkelein: A German engineer and inventor, best known for his invention of a world-famous German type of ice-skate, the 'Heinkelein Ice-Skate'.
- Carl Heinkelein: A German anatomist and physiologist, best known for his studies of nerve cells and the processes of nerve impulse transmission.
- Reinhard Heinkelein: A German artist and entrepreneur, best known as a pioneer of the Art Nouveau movement in Germany during the late 19th century.
- Friedrich Heinkelein: A German anatomist, best known for his studies of the human anatomy and physiology, which he approached with a scientific approach, being the first to describe the structure of certain organs in detail.
- Jan-Hendrik Heinkelein: A German geologist and meteorologist, who was the founder of the 'Heinkelein Institute' in Germany, dedicated to researching earth sciences and atmospheric sciences.
- Bruno Heinkelein: A German military officer, best known for his role as Chief of Staff during World War II. He was later captured and spent the rest of his life in Russian custody.