Surname Kline - Meaning and Origin
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S. Kline
read moreKline: What does the surname Kline mean?
The last name Kline is of German origin and is derived from the German word "Klinge" which means blade. The Klines were a family of blacksmiths who specialized in cutting and forging blades that were used for a variety of tools and weapons. The family of Klines eventually moved into other trades such as farming, tailoring, and carriage building. As time moved on, members of this family moved on to become merchants, lawyers, educators, and doctors.
Today, the Kline last name is still widely used and is most commonly found in areas such as Germany, Austria, and former German-speaking countries, as well as the United States. Members of the Kline family have made a name for themselves in a variety of fields. In the United States, notable members of the Kline family include lawyer and father of the American civil justice system, Erwin N. Griswold; architect Julian Kline; and the first female to receive an engineering degree, Selma Kline Reinecke.
The Kline family is an essential part of the German heritage, with a proud history of impactful individuals who have gone on to shape and define the landscape of a nation. The very name of the Kline family symbolizes strength and determination, as well as a spirit of adventure and exploration that will live on in the individuals today and in generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisKline: Where does the name Kline come from?
The surname Kline is of German origin and is most common today in the United States, Germany, and Austria. Within the US, Pennsylvania is the state with the highest concentration of Kline’s. Amongst German and Austrian states, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Thuringia have the highest concentration of Kline’s.
The Kline surname has been traced back to the Middle Ages when is was used as an occupational surname for a monk, a person deemed fit to be a member of clergy. People living in German speaking regions started to use the surname Kline around the mid-14th century and is derived from the Middle High German word 'kleina', which translates to “young person”.
Over recent years, Pennsylvania has seen the highest concentration of Kline’s, with Philadelphia having the highest number of individuals carrying the Kline surname. Family members who immigrated from Germany or Austria can also be found in settlements in the Midwestern states and parts of California.
The Kline surname has spread throughout the world and is mostly used today in German speaking countries, the US, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Kline
The surname Kline is derived from the German Kleine, meaning "little one," and is believed to have originated from a nickname for an individual of shorter stature. The name and variants can be spelled in multiple ways, including Klien, Klein, Kleyn, Clyn, Line, Lyne, and Klines. There are also variant surname spellings for English-speaking countries, such as Klyne, Cline, Clines, Kliney, and Klinesmith.
The surname Kline may also appear as Klyings, Klayings, Kliesing, and Kleyzing. In more modern times, regional dialects and pronunciation has resulted in common spelling variations of the Kline surname, such as Clines, Clyne, Kleines, Kleins, Klines and Klinesmith.
In Germany, the surnames Kline/Clines is especially popular in northwestern Germany, particularly around Hanover, Bremen, and Hamburg. This region was populated with Germanic and Flemish settlers in the early days of the nation's settlement.
Throughout Europe, the name Kline can also be translated into other languages. For example, the French version is Cline, the Dutch version is Kleyn, and the Scottish version is Lyne.
Finally, the name Kline may also appear in other variants of U.S. states such as Klayne in Iowa or Clyn in Illinois. In addition, some American variants of the Kline surname are Klyn, Clyn, Kliney, Klee, Clein, and Kliesing.
Famous people with the name Kline
- Kevin Kline: Kevin Kline is an Emmy Award-winning actor, who rose to prominence after starring in the comedies A Fish Called Wanda (1988) and French Kiss (1995). He has also been nominated for two Academy Awards and won for Best Supporting Actor in A Fish Called Wanda.
- Gary Kline: Gary Kline is an acclaimed couture designer who has created designs for celebrity clients such as Madonna and Jennifer Lopez. He has also designed the costumes for numerous Broadway productions and Hollywood films.
- Kurtwood Smith: Kurtwood Smith is an American actor, best known for his roles as Clarence Boddicker in RoboCop (1987) and Red Forman on the Fox comedy series That '70s Show.
- Karen Kline: Karen Kline is an author and entrepreneur best known for her self-help books on starting and growing a business.
- Jodie Kline: Jodie Kline is an American actor best known for her roles in the films The Mask (1994) and Miss Congeniality (2000).
- Ethan Kline: Ethan Kline is a former professional soccer player who played for the Colorado Rapids and Los Angeles Galaxy.
- John Kline: John Kline is a Republican politician from Minnesota who served as the U.S. representative for the state's second congressional district from 2003 to 2017.
- Jamie Kline: Jamie Kline is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer of the band We Shot the Moon.
- Wilford Kline: Wilford Kline is an American businessman and investor who is the founder and chairman of Kline Capital.
- Lisa Kline: Lisa Kline is an Emmy-nominated costume designer best known for her work on the musical television series Glee.