Surname Klingenschmitt - Meaning and Origin
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Klingenschmitt: What does the surname Klingenschmitt mean?
The last name Klingenschmitt is of German origin and is derived from two words: “Klingen” meaning “a blade” and “Schmitt” meaning “blacksmith”. Put together, this name literally translates to “blade smith”, and it is important to note that blades here refer to swords. Many historians suggest that Klingenschmitt is a hobby name given by blacksmiths to the swords that they made.
Historically, Klingenschmitts were part of an important sub-class of German society—the weapon smiths. Weapon smithing had been an integral part of German culture and history since years, and the Klingenschmitts played an important role in it. Not just weapons, these smiths had also made tools like shears, knives, and other implements. Such was their skill, their weapons had found use even in wars.
In modern times, the Klingenschmitts have been part of several notable families in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Its members have been found to have been brave soldiers and successful professionals in many fields—from teaching to science and business. The Klingenschmitts have also distinguished themselves in the field of arts, creativity, and spirituality and their presence may be found in many parts of Europe.
Today, the Klingenschmitt name may not conjure up its original meaning, instead simply standing as a stern audible reminder of a fascinating line of intelligence, creativity and bravery.
Order DNA origin analysisKlingenschmitt: Where does the name Klingenschmitt come from?
The surname Klingenschmitt is a German surname which is most commonly found in Germany. The surname is also found in Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, parts of the United States as well as in South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, all countries with a significant German immigrant population.
The name was probably derived from the German phrase "klingen schmiegen" which means "to hum" or "to quiver vibrantly". One possible origin of the name is the fact that it was originally a name given to a blacksmith who had a good ear for sound whenever a piece of metal was being forged. It could also have been adopted from the Old High German words "klingan" and "smiugan", meaning "to ring and to whisper" respectively.
The name Klingenschmitt is mostly found in its German spelling, however variations of its spelling can be found in Czech and Slovak, such as Klingenshmid and Klingenschmied. Other variants of the name include Klingenschmiedt, Klingenstey, Klingenstain and Kingenschmidt.
The Klingenschmitt family is an important family in Germany, having been a prominent family in the southern provinces of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg since the 16th Century. The Klingenschmitts were mostly workers, farmers and craftsmen. They are known as being very creative, enterprising and hardworking people.
Variations of the surname Klingenschmitt
The surname Klingenschmitt is of German origin, and it can be spelled in various forms such as Klingenschmied, Klingensmith, Klingenstein, Klingenstien, and Klingenmayer.
The German form of the name is usually Klingenschmitt, with 'schmitt' derived from the German word 'schmiede', meaning smith. This variation of the name would have originally come from a family of craftsmen, most likely in the swordmaking trade.
Klingenschmied is the earliest recorded form of the surname, was first used in the 13th century, and is represented in several forms in various regions. This is the closest to 'Klingenschmitt'.
Klingensmith is a common variant of the surname, as 'schmied' was adapted into 'smith' in the course of emigration to England and America. This found its way into the US and Britain in the 17th century.
Klingenstein, is derived from an old German word 'stein', meaning stone, and thus Klingenstein may have once been a more accurate spelling of the surname for a family of artisans involved in stoneworks.
Klingenstien is a variation of Klingenstein found in modern-day records in the US and elsewhere.
Klingenmayer is a form of the surname that emerged in the early 19th century amongst German-speaking communities. This is likely the result of an earlier form of the name, Klingenschmied, being adapted into the modern-day 'mayer' variant.
All of these forms are believed to have arisen from the same ancestor, as each of them shares a common etymological root. Today, the variants Klingenschmitt, Klingensmith, and Klingenstien are the most widely used.
Famous people with the name Klingenschmitt
- Matt Klingenschmitt: Known for his role as Super Artie in Power Rangers in Space.
- Michael Klingenschmitt: Former Lieutinent Colonel in the United States Air Force.
- John Klingenschmitt: American soccer player who has played for the Colorado Rapids and is currently an assistant coach with EPL club Hull City.
- Georg Klingenschmitt: German theologian and Lutheran missionary.
- John Ernest Klingenschmitt: American writer, lecturer and newspaper editor.
- Mathias Klingenschmitt: American two-time-Olympic slalom canoeist.
- Lewisbeth Klingenschmitt: American artist and professor.
- Monica Klingenschmitt: Swiss illustrator and author.
- Paul Klingenschmitt: German economist and opposition politician.
- Erwin Klingenschmitt: German photographer and member of the Deutscher Künstlerbund.