Surname Kleene - Meaning and Origin

Kleene: What does the surname Kleene mean?

The last name Kleene is derived from an old Germanic name meaning “from the little one” or “of the small one”. It is likely related to the old Germanic words “Klein” meaning small. The name could also indicate the husband of a woman with the surname Klein.

The surname is thought to have originated in Germany, but it can also be found in various other countries including Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Serbia, and Croatia. In America, the surname is also found commonly in states with large German-speaking populations such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Nebraska.

The Kleene family is defined by their traditional German values and close-knit family ties. Members of the Kleene family are usually hardworking and value loyalty and honesty above all else.

The Kleene surname is unique and can be found all over the world. It is an old Germanic surname based on the characteristics of being “small” or “little”, and it carries with it a legacy of hard work and honest values.

Kleene: Where does the name Kleene come from?

The last name Kleene is primarily of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German term "kline", meaning small and narrow. This surname was originally used to denote a person who was of small stature or slender build. Today, the last name Kleene appears to be most common in Germany, with small but significant numbers in the United States, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, the Netherlands, and Canada.

In the United States, the Kleene surname can be found mainly throughout midwestern states such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. It is also slightly more common in urban areas such as the Greater Chicago area, St. Louis, and Milwaukee. There are also notable populations of Kleene families in other states such as Washington, Oregon, and California.

In Germany, the Kleene surname appears to be most prevalent in North-Rhine Westphalia, where large populations of the surname are found around cities such as Cologne, Dortmund, and Düsseldorf. The last name is also relatively common in surrounding states such as Hessen and Lower Saxony.

Given its German and even Dutch origins, it is likely that the Kleene surname will remain more common in Germany, and other German-speaking countries, than it is in the United States in the foreseeable future. However, with the growing prominence of genealogy, more and more Kleenes are appearing in the United States, especially among those with German ancestry.

Variations of the surname Kleene

Kleene is a surname of Dutch origin, which is a variant of the name Klein, meaning “small” or “little” in Dutch.

Common variants of the name include Kleen, Kleine, Kleyn, Kleijn, Kleinen, Kleijnenburg, Kleinenberger, Kleinenberg, and Kleenmeyer.

However, there are many different spellings of Kleene as it has been assimilated into different languages and cultures over the years. Some of these variations include Kleen, Kleyn, Kleijn, Kleyne, Klien, Kleinen, Kluen, Klüün, Kleinemeyer, Klem, Kleyne, and Kleinemann.

In some cases, the spelling of the name has evolved over time, resulting in some unusual variations, such as Kline, Klehn, Klian, Cline, Kleinhans and Kleinemuller.

Kleene is an international surname, and can be found in various forms in countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

When hearing or reading this surname, it is important to remember that all variants are derived from the same source and therefore should have roughly the same pronunciation.

Famous people with the name Kleene

• Stephen Cole Kleene: American mathematician.
• Shannon Kleene- American musician and YouTuber.
• Florence Rogers Kleene: American botanist and women's rights activist.
• August Kleene: American professional baseball player and manager.
• Christina Kleene: German actress
• Thomas Kleene: German footballer.
• William C. Kleene: German World War II military personnel.
• Simon E. Kleene: German surgeon and author.
• Gerwin Kleene: German historian and scholar.
• John Kleene: American author and lawyer.

Other surnames

Kleen