Surname Kreutlein - Meaning and Origin

Kreutlein: What does the surname Kreutlein mean?

The last name Kreutlein is a German surname, originating in Germany. The literal meaning of the name means "small cross". It is a derivative of the German word kreuzlein, which means "small cross". Historically, the name could be a nickname for someone who carried a small cross, was pious or religious, or had some connection to a small cross of some kind. It could also potentially have derived from someone who lived in an area near a small cross such as a town or village.

The name is believed to have first appeared in German records in the Middle Ages, and there is evidence that some of the first recorded Kreutleins were noble families. The name spread throughout Europe and is now found in many countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and the United States.

Kreutlein is a relatively uncommon name, with only a few thousand people bearing the name in the world. In Germany, Kreutlein is the 99,455th most popular name according to the German Family Names Database. In the US, the name is even less common, ranking instead at an estimated 232,089th most popular. It is safe to conclude then that Kreutlein is a very rare last name.

Kreutlein: Where does the name Kreutlein come from?

The last name Kreutlein is thought to have originated in Germany, where it is still relatively common today. According to the 2020 Census, it is the 332nd most common last name in Germany, with an estimated 38,300 people bearing the surname. It is more commonly found in the northern and western regions of Germany, particularly in the states of Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony. It is also present in parts of former East Germany but in lesser numbers.

Outside of Germany, the surname Kreutlein is most commonly found in the United States. It is not overly common, with an estimated 3,200 people having this last name - ranking it as the 15,507th most common surname in the US. It is mainly found in the Midwest states, such as Illinois, Michigan and Indiana, although it is also spread throughout other parts of the country.

Kreutlein is also present in a number of other countries, including Austria, the United Kingdom, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland and Canada. However, by far the largest concentration of this name is found in Germany and the United States.

Variations of the surname Kreutlein

The Kreutlein surname is of German origin and has several different variants, spellings and surnames. The most common variant of the name is Kreutzer, Kreutz, Kreutzig, Kreutzberg, Kreutzerin, Kreutzner, and Kreutzen. Another variant is Kretz, Kretzig, Kretze and Kretzel.

Kreutlein (or Kreutzer) is considered to be the oldest version of the surname. It is a variation of the word “Kreut” meaning “grow, or increase”. During the Middle Ages, people often justified their clan by the meaning behind their surname rather than a common family connection. The meaning behind the name therefore could be interpreted as “the one who will increase”.

The surnames Kreutz, Kreutzig, Kreutzberg and Kreutze are derived from the Old High German word “kreuz” which means “cross”. While the other variants Kretz, Kretzig, Kretze and Kretzel come from the Middle High German word “kretzen” which means “to chirp or twitter” and was used as a nickname for someone who chirped a lot.

The Kreutlein surname has several less common spellings and variants. These include Kretlele, Kreutel, Kreutels, Kretle, Kreuder, Kreuding, Kreudel, Kreudell, Kroetlein and Kroutlein.

Therefore, the surname Kreutlein has several different spellings, variants and derivative surnames. These include Kreutzer, Kreutz, Kreutzig, Kreutzberg, Kreutzerin, Kreutzner, and Kreutzen; Kretz, Kretzig, Kretze and Kretzel; Kretlele, Kreutel, Kreutels, Kretle, Kreuder, Kreuding, Kreudell, Kroetlein and Kroutlein. Each of these surnames can help to trace the history of the Kreutlein surname back to its Germanic origins.

Famous people with the name Kreutlein

• Reeve Carney: An actor and musician with the stage name Reeve Carney, career highlights include originating the role of Peter Parker/Spiderman in the Broadway musical show Spiderman Turn Off the Dark.
• Meike Kröutlein: A German footballer currently playing for league club FFC Frankfurt.
• Carl Philipp Kreutlein: A German fine artist of the Romantic school, known for his landscapes and seascapes of coastal views and images of villagers living in rural areas near Bremen, Germany.
• Florian Kröutlein: A German ski jumper who participated in the 2010–11 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Oslo.
• Herwart Kröutlein: A German alpine skier who took part in numerous FIS Alpine Ski World Cup races during his career.
• Matthias Kröutlein: A German weightlifter, who won a gold medal in the men's 61 kg category at the 2009 European Weightlifting Championships in Romanian city Bucharest.
• Paul Kreutlein: Prolific American novelist, journalist and screenwriter, best known for his first novel Big Bad Wolf, which was made into a Hollywood movie starring Martin Sheen.
• Mario Kreutlein: A German sprint canoer who won a bronze medal in the K-4 1000 m category at the 1981 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.
• Wulf Kröutlein: A German bobsledder who competed in the 1950's winning two medals in the four-man event with a silver winning the 1956 FIBT World Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, and a bronze at the 1958 FIBT World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Other surnames

KreutleKreutler