Surname Kleindienst - Meaning and Origin
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Kleindienst: What does the surname Kleindienst mean?
The last name Kleindienst is of German origin and means "small service". This surname originates from the Middle High German “klenze” which translates to “small”; and “dienst” which translates to “service”. Historically, the Kleindienst surname was used by people who held a position of service to the royal courts of Europe or to wealthy merchants, land owners and well-to-do families.
The Kleindienst surname is sometimes also spelled Kleindinst, Klinedinst, Klinedantage, Kleindenst, Clinedance, Kleindanse, and Kleindance. In the late 19th century, some people with the Kleindienst last name immigrated to the United States, primarily to Pennsylvania, Indiana, and later the Midwest.
Today, some descendants of the Kleindienst surname still live in Germany and the United States, while some have emigrated to other countries. The many people who have the Kleindienst surname are often proud of their history and keep it alive within their family. This last name is associated with honor, service and loyalty to the past. Those who have the Kleindienst name and history should be proud of their ancestry, having roots that stretch back hundreds of years.
Order DNA origin analysisKleindienst: Where does the name Kleindienst come from?
The surname Kleindienst is a German name that is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, The Netherlands and Switzerland. It is a generic name with no regional or national ties to any specific area.
The name typically originates from the German words meaning ‘small’ and ‘service’, suggesting that some of the original bearers of the name held positions in service of a small group.
The name is still common in parts of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, particularly in rural areas, though it is less common in The Netherlands. Additionally, it can be found among individuals of German ancestry living in other countries, particularly the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
In the U.S. alone, there are at least 534 people with the last name Kleindienst in urban centers across all 50 states. Many of them are of German descent, descended directly from German immigrants who came to America in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Meanwhile, individuals bearing the Kleindienst surname trace their ancestry back to a wide range of other European countries, including Denmark, France, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom.
Overall, the last name Kleindienst is still fairly common today and can be found in many countries across the world. Its origin as a German surname, however, remains the same.
Variations of the surname Kleindienst
The surname Kleindienst is a German occupational name of two elements. The first component, Kleiner, is derived from the Low German word ‘Kleine’ meaning ‘small’, and was a nickname for a small person. The second element is ‘Dienst’, meaning ‘service’, which is related to the occupations of sergeant or foreman.
The variants of this surname include Kleine Dienst, Kleiner Dienst, Klein Dienst, Kleyndienst, Kleindeent, Kleindeend, Kleindens, Kleindent, Klaindienst, Klayndienst, Kleandienst and Klayndeend.
Some of the surnames with the same origin include Kleindienst, Kleindest, Kleindenstein, Kleindinast, Klausing, Klemling, Klemens, Klema, Klemm, Klempa, Klempan, Klempen and Klempner.
These names all originated in Germany and could be found in many variations in other European countries, including the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands. These surnames could also be found in other places such as the United States and Canada where many people with German ancestry have settled.
In many cases, all of these surnames indicate the same origin and a shared family history. However, due to the evolution of the language and the variations in pronunciation and spelling, they can take on different forms. These are all valid surnames with the same origin, which is why they are still in existence today.
Famous people with the name Kleindienst
- Richard Kleindienst: an American attorney and politician who served as US Attorney General under President Richard Nixon
- Absalon Plesner Kleindienst: a Danish entrepreneur (founder of the Tribona Group)
- Elin Kleindienst: an Austrian mountaineer, ski mountaineer, alpinist and extreme skier.
- Paul Kleindienst: an American editor and poet who founded the literary magazine Lamination Colony.
- Axel Wehmeier Kleindienst: a Swiss pianist, organist, composer, and teacher.
- Erich Kleindienst: a German businessman who was the founder of the Bischoffswerke.
- Wilfried Kleindienst: a German politician and member of the Christian Democratic Union who served as mayor of Kipshoven from 2004-2008.
- Robert Kleindienst (also known as Robert K.): an American singer, songwriter, and producer.
- Paul Kleindienst. Jr.: the son of the poet Paul Kleindienst, he is an American author and screenwriter.
- Robert Kleindienst: a German mathematician who worked in the field of geometry and combinatorics.