Surname Kleinschmitz - Meaning and Origin
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Kleinschmitz: What does the surname Kleinschmitz mean?
The last name Kleinschmitz is of Germanic origins and the literal English translation is little smith. It is thought to denote a person who was a blacksmith of small goods. Blacksmiths were a highly valued part of medieval Europe, producing tools and weapons for people and armies.
Kleinschmitz can also be a toponymic surname. It is derived from ‘Schmidt’, a German name for someone from a settlement by a smith. This indicates that the bearer of the surname may have hailed from such a place.
The surname first appeared in Germany during the late medieval period. In the 13th century, it was recorded there in various spellings such as Kleinschmidt, Kleinmitz, Kleismit, Klemmitz and Kleimetz. The name was mainly found in the region of Bavaria and Prussia.
In nearby Austria, the name was recorded in the 15th century. During the Middle Ages, the Kleinschmitz family experienced significant political success. They were considered to be one of the most influential families of the Rhineland and went on to acquire a large and powerful estate.
Today, the surname is quite common throughout Europe and the United States, with many descendants of the original Kleinschmitz family now living in other parts of the globe. It is a wonderful example of how one name can come to represent a proud history, spanning many centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisKleinschmitz: Where does the name Kleinschmitz come from?
The last name Kleinschmitz is most commonly found in Germany today. Specifically, it is most prevalent in the regions of North-Rhine Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. About 66% of all known people with the Kleinschmitz last name can be found in Germany.
The name first appeared around 120-130 years ago in Germany in records of death taxes and German chancery records. The spelling of the name changed slightly over time, from Quillenschmied to Kleynschmötz and the current spelling of Kleinschmitz. It is unclear why the spelling changed so dramatically over time.
The Kleinschmitz surname is generally believed to be derived from the German words "Klein" (small) and "Schmied" (blacksmith). The combination of these words, which literally translates to "small blacksmith," suggests that the original ancestors of the Kleinschmitz family were immersed in the trade of blacksmithing; likely in the form of horse shoeing and metalworking.
The name is still relatively rare in Germany today, with only about 870 records found in the 2007 German telephone directory. However, it appears that the family is growing in numbers; particularly in Germany and other German speaking countries. The surname can also be found in other countries around the world, such as The Netherlands, France, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Kleinschmitz
The most common spelling of the surname Kleinschmitz is Kleinschmidt, and there are also various other variants such as Klein, Kleinsch, Kleinschmied, Kleinschmiege, Kleinschmid, Kleinschmi, KleinSchmidt, Kleinschmiede, Kleinschmieder, Kleinschmieds, Kleinschmiem and Léinschmieds.
Kleinschmidt, or its variants, is a German surname that can be derived from two different sources. It can be derived from Middle High German 'klîn', meaning 'small' or 'little', and 'schmidt', which is a profession meaning 'smith or thatcher'. This would mean a 'small smith'. It can also be derived from Middle High German terms 'klîn,' (small or tiny) and 'smit', meaning 'smith.' This could refer to a craftsman or metalworker with a small shop.
Kleinschmidt is also used by Jewish families originating in Central and Eastern Europe. This surname is often spelled as Klein or Kleinschmied in its Ashkenazi form. It is derived from the Yiddish 'klainshmideh', which translates to 'small smith' in English. Klein was adopted as a surname of convenience when registries first began, and could refer to a craft or trade such as blacksmithing.
The various spellings and variants of Kleinschmitz are interesting to explore as they not only demonstrate the alternate interpretations of the surname but also the different interpretations and variants of German, Yiddish and other dialects. All of these spellings and variants can be traced back to the same original surname and are just different versions of it, representing the immigrants that took on these new surnames when they entered other countries.
Famous people with the name Kleinschmitz
- Bruce Kleinschmitz: He was a US Navyman who earned a Purple Heart for service in Vietnam.
- Mary Kleinschmitz: She was an actress who appeared in the films “Mischief” and “The Lost Boys.”
- Friedrich Kleinschmitz: He was a German Expressionist painter.
- Paul Kleinschmitz: He was a German World War I ace credited with shooting down five enemy aircraft.
- Steve Kleinschmitz: He is a Canadian ice hockey player that played in the NHL for the Edmonton Oilers.
- Jake Kleinschmitz: He is an American college ice hockey player, currently playing for the Ohio State University Buckeyes.
- Michael Kleinschmitz: He is a German footballer who played for Schalke 04 and currently plays for Neusen Union.
- Rebecca Kleinschmitz: She is an American stage and television actress.
- Arnold Kleinschmitz: He was a collection illustrator and art director.
- Janos Kleinschmitz: He is a Hungarian speed skater that participated in the 2002 Winter Olympics.