Surname Kleinicke - Meaning and Origin

Kleinicke: What does the surname Kleinicke mean?

The last name Kleinicke is a German surname, meaning 'small pickaxe' in old German. It's believed to have been a surname associated with someone who worked in some capacity with pickaxes or axes.

In the Middle Ages, pickaxes were used to cut and shape stones for building projects, as well as for agricultural purposes. They were an important tool for miners, who used them to dig tunnels and remove ore. This type of work was essential for village economies, so those skilled in their use were regarded highly in the Middle Ages.

It is thought that the Kleinicke surname arose earlier than surnames became widespread in Germany, and it was probably adopted out of necessity - to differentiate men of the same name living in the same area. Over time, it likely became a hereditary family name.

Today, the Kleinicke surname is still found in both Germany and parts of the United States. It is likely that those bearing this last name are descended from a family with a long history of working with pickaxes. These people may have helped to shape the development of cities, towns and villages through their hard work and attention to detail.

Kleinicke: Where does the name Kleinicke come from?

The last name Kleinicke is most commonly found in Germany today. In fact, according to the German telephone directory, it is ranked at a respectable 5,625th most popular surname. According to surname distribution maps derived from the German telephone directory, the majority of Kleinicke's are concentrated in Germany's western, and central provinces.

Kleinicke's are quite common in the state of North-Rhine Westphalia, where the name is the 684th most popular surname. Cities such as Bielefeld, Cologne, Duisburg, and Düsseldorf all have a great density of Kleinicke's, making up a good portion of the population. Except for a spot in Lower Saxony, the namesake is rarely found outside Germany's borders.

Interestingly, Kleinicke is likely a fairly modern variation of the earliest spelling Klänke, which was more often used in earlier records. Despite the variation and changes to the name over the course of many generations, the Kleinicke surname remains quite common in Germany and fits in with the nation's well-known sense of tradition and heritage.

Variations of the surname Kleinicke

The surname Kleinicke is a German and Dutch surname that comes from the word “Klein” meaning small or little and “icke” meaning a diminutive form of a nickname. It originated as a nickname for someone who was very small and eventually became a surname.

Variant spellings of the surname Kleinicke include Kleinecke, Kleinekse, Kleineke, Kleyneke, Kleyneck, Klinecke, Kleinecke, Kleineck, Kleineick, and Kleineek.

Surnames derived from Kleinicke include Kleinik, Kleinigge, Kleindege, Kleinschmidt, Kleinperge, Kleinpicht, Kleinebrecht, Kleingrothe, Kleingroth, Kleingeld, Kleinhegenberg, Kleinefeld, Kleinmyer, Kleinorith, Kleynen, Kleyne, Kleinhesse, and Kleinmeister.

All of these surnames have been recorded in Germany and the Netherlands dating back to the 1500s. Kleinicke is most common in Westphalia and Lower Saxony in Germany and in North Holland in the Netherlands. It has also spread to other parts of Europe, such as Poland and France, as well as other parts of the world like the United States and South Africa.

The various spellings and surnames of Kleinicke all derive from the same origin, but they are used to differentiate family lines or to reflect regional dialect variations. It remains a popular surname in its various forms throughout the world.

Famous people with the name Kleinicke

• Gerhard Kleinicke: a German astrophysicist
• Manfred Kleinicke: a German engineer and oceanographer
• Dean Kleinicke: an American mountaineer and Antarctic explorer
• George Kleinicke: an American artist
• Adam Kleinicke: a Canadian film director, actor, and producer
• Michael Kleinicke: a German fashion photographer
• Alexa Kleinicke: an American artist and designer
• Jacob Kleinicke: a German professional basketball player
• Mark Kleinicke: an American actor
• Klaus Kleinicke: a German racing cyclist

Other surnames

Kleinickel