Surname Kleinhanss - Meaning and Origin
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Kleinhanss: What does the surname Kleinhanss mean?
The last name Kleinhanss is German in origin, with the literal translation meaning ‘little Hans’. It is made up of two elements – the diminutive form ‘klein’ meaning ‘little’, and the German and Dutch name ‘Hans’. The name is said to have originated from the French first name ‘Jean’ or ‘John’ and has become more widespread due to emigration.
The Kleinhanss family name is common throughout parts of Europe, especially Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In Germany, it is not uncommon to come across a handful of Kleinhansses in one small community. The earliest known record of the Kleinhanss name is in the 13th century village of Trappstadt in Bavaria. It is likely that the Kleinhanss relatives living in this town are the ancestors of many of the people living with this name today.
The name Kleinhanss can also be found in the United States – it is estimated that there are currently over 3,500 people in the country who bear this surname. It is likely that these people are direct descendants of immigrants who arrived in the country in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The Kleinhanss surname can be found worldwide today, in many different countries, though these people will most likely have descended from families who settled in Germany and the Netherlands centuries ago. Although the outlook of the name has changed over time, its meaning and origin still remain the same.
Order DNA origin analysisKleinhanss: Where does the name Kleinhanss come from?
Today, the last name Kleinhanss is predominately found in Germany and throughout Europe. Records indicate that the name is of German origin and dates back to records from the Middle Ages. The name is particularly common in the northern parts of Germany, like Lower Saxony, as well as other parts of central Europe, like Austria. It is also found in some other countries of Europe like the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The origins of the name Kleinhanss has long been a subject of debate. It could originate from the German word ‘Kleingans,’ meaning a small goose or gosling, or from the German phrase ‘kleine Hans’, which was used to refer to people with small stature. It is likely that people with the name Kleinhanss were small in size during the Middle Ages and the name was used as a nickname.
Due to increased migration by people with the name to the United States, Canada, South Africa, and Australia, the last name Kleinhanss is less common in Europe than it once was, however, the name still remains popular in many countries.
Variations of the surname Kleinhanss
The surname Kleinhanss is an Austrian and German surname with multiple variants, spellings, and ancestors. Variations of the Kleinhanss surname include Kleinhans, Kleinhansz, Kleinhanses, Kleinehans, Kleinehansz, Kleinhansse, Kleinehanses, Kleinhantz, Kleinhantzes, Kleinehantz, Kleinehantz, Kleinhantze, and Kleinehantze.
Kleinhanss is a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the given name of the father of the original bearer. In this case, the original surname could have come from the Germanic name Hans, meaning “God is gracious”.
The variants of Kleinhanss are also forms of the surname Klein, which means “small” in German. Variations of Klein include: Kleim, Kleimann, Kleinman, Kleymann, Kleimann, Kleimers, Klier, Kleiner, Klyer, Kleeber, Kleebr, Kleinress, and Kleinstress.
In some instances, the original bearer’s location can also produce additional variations of the surname. In Austria, the spelling for Kleinhanss can be found as Kleynhanss, Kleinhansz, Klinhansz, and Klyinhansz, while in Germany it is often spelled Kleingeld or Kleinschmidt. These variations were likely developed in order to differentiate between bearers of the same name in different regions.
Finally, many of the variants of the Kleinhanss surname can be found across regions in Europe, including Hungary (Kleinhall, Kleinhammer, Kleimeser, Kleinmeise, Kleinkoh, Kleinstein), Switzerland (Kleingeschwender, Kleinschittered, Kleinwise, Klonfasen, Klinfasen), and Czechoslovakia (Kleinhsar).
Overall, the surname Kleinhanss has many variants, spellings, and ancestors, all of which have left their mark across Europe for centuries.
Famous people with the name Kleinhanss
- Lothar Kleinhanss: German novelist, editor and journalist.
- Richard Kleinhanss: German philosopher and educationalist.
- Dr. Franz Kleinhanss: physician and WW1 field doctor.
- Ben Kleinhanss: Dutch professional soccer player.
- Günter Kleinhanss: German soccer player.
- Frauke Kleinhanss: American painter, sculptor, and installation artist.
- Maria Kleinhanss: German author for children’s literature.
- Christian Kleinhanss: German musician and composer.
- Hedda Kleinhanss: German sculptor and architect.
- Winfried Kleinhanss: German theologian.