Surname Klinck - Meaning and Origin
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Klinck: What does the surname Klinck mean?
The last name Klinck has Dutch origins and is derived from the word "klinken," which means "to click, clink or clank." This is believed to refer to the sound of a tool or anvil being used by a smith. It could also refer to the sound of a lock being clicked shut or a latch clanking shut.
Klinck is an occupational surname that was most likely given to metalworkers in the Low Countries of Europe during the medieval and early modern periods. During this time, many families within the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany were given occupational surnames to indicate what type of work they did. Klinck would have been used to denote a metalworker.
The surname Klinck is both rare and ancient, and is still used occasionally across Europe, notably in the Netherlands. It is not particularly common in the United States, but there are some clusters of the name in areas with a strong Dutch heritage. It is also found in other countries, such as Canada, with large Dutch-speaking populations.
As the surname Klinck is so closely tied to its Dutch origins, it has kept some of its original meaning to the present day: it still signifies a metalworker or a skillful craftsman. Some people who share the surname Klinck may feel a special connection to their ancestral trade.
Order DNA origin analysisKlinck: Where does the name Klinck come from?
The last name Klinck is most commonly found in Germanic countries, including Germany and Austria. Klinck is derived from the name "Kleingauf," which can be translated to mean "leading streeter." The name can also be found in other countries with German heritage, such as South Africa, the United States and Canada. In the United States, Klinck is particularly common in the states of Pennsylvania, New York and Wisconsin.
Klinck is an old German name, likely arising from medieval times when the last name would have been given to a leader of a street or village. During this time, a leader was someone who held a prominent position in the village and often was involved in a variety of roles such as managing repairs and providing arbitration in disputes.
Klinck is a common last name in Germany and Austria, but it has been popping up in other countries like the US, Canada and South Africa too. It is widely believed that the name is still linked to its old German roots, and it is used by people of ethnic German backgrounds. People with the last name Klinck have created quite an impressive history, going all the way back to the middle ages.
Today, an estimated number of about 33,000 people carry the Klinck last name all around the world. While the name is often passed within families, many others have adopted Klinck as their last name in recent times.
Variations of the surname Klinck
The surname Klinck (also spelled as Klink, Klynck, Klynk, Klenk, Klenek, Klinke, Klanck, Klanek, Kleinck, Kleinke, and Clink) is of German and Dutch origin. It is an occupational surname for a locksmith or tinsmith. The German spelling of the name Klinck is derived from the German word "Klinken", meaning "hooks", while the Dutch spelling "Klenk" and its variants may come from a Dutch nickname for an individual with a hooked nose or a 'silver tongued' individual. Additionally, it may come from Dutch words such as "kling" meaning clink, ring or tink, or "klem", meaning socket.
The first known recorded spelling of the surname Klinck is in 1529, when Henrich Klinck was living in Ronsdorf, Germany. The surname was later found in many parts of Germany, such as Brandenburg, Hessen, Pomerania, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Westfalen. Over time, the Klinck spelling became prominent in the United States and Canada.
Klinck is a common surname in Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Poland. Variants of the surname Klinck are also found in countries such as England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
The Klinck name is also common in the United States. The most prevalent Klinck families in the United States are found in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota.
Famous people with the name Klinck
- Carl F. Klinck: He was the first Dean of Arts at the University of Alberta and professor of English. He wrote several books including his most famous work, The Literary History of Canada.
- Karl M. Klinck: Karl was a Canadian poet and author who wrote books such as As for Me and My House.
- Geoffrey Klinck: Geoffrey was an actor and one of Canada's best-known and respected actors.
- Harry Klinck: Harry was the first director of the National Film Board of Canada.
- Keri Klinck: Keri is a Canadian actress known for her roles in films such as This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Road to Nowhere.
- Sharon Kivnick Klinck: Sharon is a Canadian film director, writer, and producer. She wrote and produced the films The Young and Prodigious T.S Spivet and Goon.
- Don Klinck: Don was a Canadian model and actor. He was featured in music videos by D.O.A. and Jeff Healey Band.
- Robert B. Klinck: Robert is an American librarian and academic administrator. He was the first African-American to become the dean of an Ivy League library.
- Robert F. Klinck: Robert was an American politician who was a three-term member of the Wisconsin State Senate and then a one-term member of the United States House of Representatives.
- Niels Klinck: Niels is a Canadian composer and arts educator. He wrote the music for the film The Young and Prodigious T.S Spivet.