Surname Kleine-Finke - Meaning and Origin
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Kleine-Finke: What does the surname Kleine-Finke mean?
The German surname Kleine-Finke is derived from the personal name 'Finke', which in turn is derived from the Middle High German word "vinke", meaning 'pointed spear'. It is a topographical name from the Middle Ages, for someone who lived near a pointed spear-shaped landmark, or a hedge in the shape of a pointed spear. It was a common form of boundary marker, used to identify property lines.
The surname Kleine-Finke can be broken down into two parts: 'Kleine' and 'Finke'. In this case, 'Kleine' is a German word, meaning 'small or little' and is typically used as a distinguishing feature in surnames. It most likely refers to a smaller species of spear - such as a javelin. The 'Finke' part of the name most likely comes from the Middle High German root word, as mentioned above, and the combined surname indicates that one of the family's ancestors was most likely a small-scale landowner who used pointed spear-shaped markers as boundary markers on their land.
Kleine-Finke is an interesting and unique surname, with a strong historical link to a time when landowners were required to identify their land. It is a reminder of a way of life long since gone, and still in use in some German-speaking areas today.
Order DNA origin analysisKleine-Finke: Where does the name Kleine-Finke come from?
The last name Kleine-Finke is most common in Germany, where its origins are thought to be, though it's also occasionally seen in other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland.
The name is composed of two parts, 'Kleine' meaning small in German and 'Finke' being a fairly common German surname, meaning finch. It is likely the combination was intended to signify a family or individual of small stature, or at least to differentiate this Kleine family from other similarly-named family lines.
Kleine-Finke family names are found across Germany, particularly in the eastern and southwestern parts of the country. In the west, the name is most often seen in North Rhine-Westphalia, a state located alongside the Dutch and Belgium borders, where its appeal may have spread from neighbouring countries.
The popularity of the surname is slowly fading over time, particularly due its simplicity and commonality - the widespread adoption and modernisation of surnames such as 'Finkenstein' or 'Kleinenberger' have caused it to become something of a relic in some places. But in those areas it remains more popular, it continues to be a name that carries a sense of tradition and respect.
Variations of the surname Kleine-Finke
The surname Kleine-Finke can be spelled in many different variants depending on region and language. Common variations of the name include Kleinefink, Kleinfink, Kleine-Finck, Kleine-Fink, Kleinefinks, Kleinfinks and Kleine-Finks. It is also sometimes seen spelled with a “K” or a “C” in place of the “F”.
Kleine-Finke is a German surname, derived from the combination of the two words ‘Kleine’ meaning ‘small’ and ‘Fink’ meaning ‘finch’. This name probably originated as a nickname for a short person, comparing them to a small bird.
Variations of the Kleine-Finke surname are found in Germany, and in countries that have a large German population, such as the United States, Australia and Canada.
Other related surnames include Klinefelter, Kleinfelder, Kleinfeldman, Kleinberger, Kleinsinger, Finkeleft, Finkelmann, Finkelson, Finklestein and Finkenthal.
Kleinfelder is the closest variant to the Kleine-Finke surname. It is a diminutive of Klein, the German word for small, and likely refers to small stature. The other surnames are also derivatives of Klein, but with an added suffix such as “man”, “son” or “stein”.
Depending on the region, there could be more variations and spelling of the Kleine-Finke name. Some of these variations may even be formed from various dialects. However, all of them have the same origin, and are connected to the small German finch.
Famous people with the name Kleine-Finke
- Lisa Kleine-Finke: German volleyball player who has played for German club teams such as USC Münster and VC Wiesbaden.
- Tracy Kleine-Finke: American actress known for appearing in TV shows like Dexter, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Law and Order: Criminal Intent.
- Hartmut Kleine-Finke: German judoka who won a gold medal at the 1990 European Judo Championships.
- Heinrich Kleine-Finke: German doctor and pioneer of physical therapy who wrote several books on the subject.
- Joseph Kleine-Finke: German composer known for writing various pieces for the theater and classical music.
- Gerd Kleine-Finke: German physicist and professor of Physics at the Technical University Darmstadt who helped develop intensified Bradyprism polarizers.
- Frieder Kleine-Finke: German swimmer who was part of the Hansa Rostock Swimming and Water Polo Club and achieved multiple national championship titles.
- Ivo Kleine-Finke: German fencer who competed in the 1964 and 1968 Summer Olympics in fencing events.
- Karl “Kaz” Kleine-Finke: American medial researcher who worked on the development of cyclosporine, the first drug that can prevent organ transplants from being rejected.
- Lucile Kleine-Finke: German photographer and writer who had her works exhibited in museums and in multiple cities across Germany.