Surname Klingl - Meaning and Origin
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Klingl: What does the surname Klingl mean?
The last name Klingl is of German origin and is derived from the German word ‘klingen’, which translates as ‘to sound’ or ‘to ring’. This term was often used to describe metal objects which made a sound when struck, making it an apt surname for the makers of metal objects. It can also be rendered as Klingel and Klingele, and its various forms were found in nearly every province of the German Empire and throughout Central Europe.
The Klingl surname has often been associated with musicians, as the name appears in multiple church records in the area of Großenhain, Germany, specifying individuals with the surname as ‘Klingler’, ‘Klinglerin’, and ‘Klinglgeiger’, all of which denote a violinist or stringed instrument player. Additionally, records from Bavarian and Upper-Lusatian sources show musicians possessing the Klingl surname participating in various choirs, bands, and orchestras.
However, despite its presence in musical circles, individuals with this surname typically tended to occupations related to metal trade. This may include blacksmiths, armourers, cutlers, cutlers’ merchants, and jewellers, all occupations which likely required the ‘klingen’, or sound, of metal objects being crafted.
Due to its specific geographical origins and frequent association with musical and metal-based occupations, the Klingl surname has come to signify musicians or metal craftsmen, professionalism, and hard work.
Order DNA origin analysisKlingl: Where does the name Klingl come from?
The surname Klingl is most commonly associated with Germany and Austria, and it is less common in other countries. In Germany, the surname is most common in the Elbingerode area of the Harz mountain region. It is also found in towns and villages in western Austria, Bavaria, and Tyrol.
The surname likely originated as a German occupational name, referring to a cornet player in a military band or similar performance group. The last name Klingl is derived from the Old German “Kling” or “Klingel”, meaning bell or chime.
Today, this surname is not as commonly found as in past centuries, though it is still in use and there are a few individuals bearing that name scattered throughout France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Immigrants to the United States may also have carried the name, though it is not especially common in the U.S. today.
While the surname is significantly less frequent than it was a hundred years ago, it is still found and used, mostly in Germany and Austria. People bearing the name in these countries may be descendants of a common ancestor, as the name has remained in that part of the world for centuries.
Variations of the surname Klingl
The surname Klingl is an old and quite rare German name, and can be spelled in multiple ways. Variants include Klingel, Klinkl, Klinkle and Klingle. In German, these names are all pronounced alike, but in English the spelling can change the pronunciation. The name is mostly derived from the Middle High German word "klingen," which means "ringing."
Klingl is part of the broader family of names that originate from German words that involve sound; these include Klingele (German for bell), Klinker (German for brick), and Klingburg (German for castle). The Klingl surname can also be found in Germany's eastern neighbors, such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Here, it is spelled as either Klingl or Klinkle, with the latter form sometimes seen in records.
Other spellings and related surnames that appear in various records and countries include Kleyngel (from Netherlands), Klingler (from Switzerland), Kleinle (from Austria), Klink (from Poland) and Klingeler (from France).
Middle High German was used in Germany from 1050 to 1350, and during this time it is likely these names evolved. Records from this time show that some of the Klingl variants hold revolutionary connotations from the French Revolution. The name Klingel appears in records as being the name of a French revolutionary who was executed in 1793.
The Klingl variants have also been changed in different countries from their original form. Klinker can be found as Clinker or Clink in England, Klinker is Klinger in Sweden and some versions of Klinkle, such as Klenkler or Klenkl, appear in the United States.
Thus, the surname Klingl has evolved into several variations and spellings over time and in different cultures. The Klingl name is rare and the variants involved are interesting, offering a glimpse into the history of the name.
Famous people with the name Klingl
- Fritz Klingl: World War I flying ace pilot (Austrian Empire).
- Ossi Klingl: German politician (Social Democratic Party of Germany).
- Alexander Klingl: German footballer (FC Schalke 04).
- Kurt Klingl: German aviator (Luftwaffe).
- Mike Klingl: American football player (All American Football Conference).
- Kenneth Klingl: Professor Emeritus in German Language and Literature at the University of Illinois.
- Richard Klingl: Austrian mountain biker, winner of the 2008 Mountainbike-Vienna.
- Ashley Klingl: American pole vaulter and heptathlete from Saint Mary's College of California.
- Peter Klingl: Austrian ski jumping coach.
- Mathias Klingl: German auto racing driver.
- Max Klingl: German diver, three-time bronze medalist in the Greco-Roman diving at the 1896 Summer Olympics.
- Karl Klingl: Austrian composer, director and pianist.
- Emil Klingl: German actor, best known for his roles in films such as Man at the Wheel, Big Ben Strikes Again and Ish Orkestriet.
- Hans Klingl: Swiss former bobsledder who competed in the late 1940s, winning the 1950 FIBT World Championship.
- Richard Klingl jun.: Austrian modern pentathlete, five-time national champion and overall winner of the European Modern Pentathlon Cup in 2007.