Klein Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History
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Learn MoreThis is a popular German/Dutch, common throughout all of central and eastern Europe, surname deriving from the Middle High German and Dutch word klein or kleyne, meaning small. This last name developed from a nickname for a person who was small in stature, or alternatively, as a name for the junior male in the family (ex. Kleinpeter, Kleinhans). In this sense, it would be the German equivalent of the English/Scottish surname Little. Another theory, given pre-medieval humor, is that the name may have actually referred to a rather large person. One source asserts the name first originated in the Rhineland. It is also a common Jewish surname is the United States.
Some of the earliest bearers of this name include Herolt der Kleine (Wurzburg, 1185 AD) Walthem der Kleine (Kassel, 1209 AD).
I have identified three Klein family mottoes in Latin that translate to English as follows:
Honor et patria (Honor and Fatherland)
Vires unitae agunt (Forces united act)
Concordia et labore (By union and labor)
The name is very popular throughout Europe, ranking as follows in the following 11 nations where its cracks the top 1,000 surnames: Germany (11th), Austria (60th), Netherlands (36th), France (130th), Luxembourg (13th), Slovakia (146th), Belgium (928th), Sweden (885th), Denmark (527th), Estonia (485th), and Liechtenstein (132nd). In Australia it ranks 1,049th, in New Zealand it ranks 2,223rd, in South Africa is ranks 899th, and in Canada, it ranks 688th.
As of the US Census of 2000, the last name Klein ranked 359th in terms of popularity. The surname Klein ranks in the top 100 surnames in the following six US States: New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Spelling variations to this common name include Kleine, Kleiner, Kleint, Kline, Kleen, Kleinert, Kleinlein, Klejn, Cline, Clyne and others.
Some of the earliest bearers of this last name in colonial America were Dutch settlers, including the following: Uldrich and Afje Klein (New York City 1641) and Willemyntje de Klein (1680). Settlers in the early 1700s include Hieronymus Klein (New York 1709), and Peter Klein (New York 1709), Amalia, Anna, Henrich, Jacob, and Johann William Klein (New York 1709). There was a group of Klein families who emigrated from Luxembourg and Belgium to Ozaukee County, Wisconsin in the mid-1800s (the first being Jean Nicholas Klein who was born in 1820).
In Australia, Johan Georg Klein, a tanner aged 33, came to South Australia board the Malvina Vidal in 1857, and Johanna Christine came to the same province and in the same year aboard the Victoria.
Throughout history there have been hundreds of notable bearers of this surname, including the following: 1) Ezra Klein (1984) who is an American blogger and journalist associated with Vox, The Washington Post, and The American Prospect, born in Irvine, California, 2) Herbert C. Klein (1930) who was a member of the US House of Representatives from New Jersey who was born in Newark, 3) Dominqiue Louis Antoine Klein (1761-1845) who was a French military leader during the French Revolutionary War and Napoleonic War, becoming General of the cavalry, and later serving in the French Senate, 4) Ralph Phillip Klein (1942-2013) who was the 12th Premier of Alberta, Canada from 1992-2006, 5) Allen Klein (1931-2009) who was an American businessman and publisher who managed acts such as Sam Cooke, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones, having been born in Newark, NJ, 6) Frederick Christopher Klein (1979), an American actor from Hinsdale, Illinois who is best known for his role as Oz in the American Pie comedy films, 7) Norbert Klein (1866-1933) was the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order from 1923 to 1933, 8) Jonathan David Klein (1960) who is the co-founder of Getty Images, having been born in Johannesburg, South Africa, 9) Christian Felix Klein (1849-1925) who was a German mathematician born in Dusseldorf, Prussia who was known for his work on group theory, complex analysis, and non-Euclidean geometry, and 10) Chris Klein (1976) who was a professional soccer player from St. Louis, Missouri, who played in the MLS from 1998 to 2010.
- Comte Dominique Louis Antoine Klein, General (1761-1845)
- Christian Felix Klein
Hans D.A. Klein was born in Scwalbach, Saarland, Germany in 1450 AD. He married Anna Katharina Becker and had a son with her named Hans. This son, Hans Klein, was born in Germany in 1480. He married a woman named Margreth and had two sons with her as follows: Clauss Klein and Hans Georg. Clauss Klein was born in 1500. He married Johanetta Schönett and had the following issue with her: George, Appolonia, Gross Hans, and Klein Hans. George Klein was born in Ingelfingen, Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg in 1530. He married Beihel Sybille and had the following children: Thomas, Caspar, Hans, and Michel. Thomas Klein was born in Engelfagen Saarbrucken in 1560. He married Apollonia and had the following issue with her: Caspar, Barbell, Velten, and Margreth. Caspar Klein was born in Hilsbach, Bayern in 1590. He married a woman named Margretha and had a son with her named Hans Velten. Hans Velten was born in the same town in 1629. He married twice and had a son named Hans Jakob. Hans Jakob Klein was born in Dilsburg, Saarbrucken, Germany in 1660. He married Anna Katharina Becker and fathered the following children: Johann Peter, Hanss Jacob, Hans Georg, Johannes, Anna Margarethe Franz, Anna Catharina, Hans Velten, Anna Elisabeth Diehl, Johanna Friedrich, and Hans Georg. Hanss Jacob Klein was born in Saarland in 1690. He married Anna Katharina Buch and had the following issue with her: Hans Peter, Maria Margaretha Hauser, Johann, Maria Katharina, Anna Margarethe, and Anna Elisabeth. His son Johann was born in 1728.
Uldrick Kleyn (or Clein or Cleen) was born in Staden, Wetteraukreis, Hessen in 1616. He went to colonial America. In 1641, in the Dutch Reformed Church in New York, he married Aefje Pieters. They had the following children together: Melchoir, Petronella Uldrickse, Johannes, and Ariaantje Uldricks (Van Vranken). His son Johannes Kleyn was born in New Amsterdam, New Netherlands in 1649. He married Maria Ludovicus Cobes and later Clara Cobes and had issue with her as follows: Johanna Clara, Catarina (David), Weintje, Baefje Janse, and Clara. His daughter Baefje was born in Schenectady, New York in 1686. She married Willem David Marinus, and had three issue with him: Maria Willems, Johannes, and Jeremias.
Nicholas Klein was born in Postroff, Moselle, Lorraine, France who was born in 1615 AD. He had a son named Sebastian Klein or Cline who was born in Postorf, Steinsal, Alsace in 1644. He married Catharina Schmidt and had two sons with her: Nicholas, Moriz Schmidt, Sebastian, Anna Elizabeth, Maria Catharina, Ameley, Anna Ottilia, and Anna Margretha. His son Moriz Schmidt Klein was born in Postorff, France in 1684. Moritz emigrated on a sailing ship from Rotterdam (The Netherlands), via Cowes (England), to Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) arriving on the ship Phoenix, on Sep 15, 1749. He married Anna Catherina Marzloff and had the following children with her: Andreas, Johann Bernard, Anna Magdalena (Lintz), Valentine, Johann Sebastian, Jacob, Adam, Maria Barbara, Anna Margarteha, Hans Michael, Anna Christina, Johann Theobald, and Johannes Jacob.His son Johann Sebastian “Bostian” Klein or Cline was born in the same French town as his father in 1712. He married Susan Christiana Elizabeth Beiber and had the following issue: Sebastian Jr., Christopher, Christina (Yoder), Daniel, Elizabeth (Propost), John, Othellia, Mary (Bost), Anna Margaret, Michael S. Sr., Othelia (Hefner), Jacob Sr. His son John Klein was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1752. He married Barbara Treffelstadt and had three sons with her: Sebastian Bostian, Henry, and William. Henry was born in Catawba, North Carolina in 1793. He married Elizabeth Eckerd and had four children with her: Lyddia Harbinson, Anna Mary, Noah, and Lawson Henry. His son Lawson Henry Klein was born in Catawba County, North Carolina in 1829. He married Rufina Miller. He passed away in Virginia in 1864.
Blazons & Genealogy Notes
2) Mecklembourg – Écartelé aux 1 et 4 de gueules à un oiseau essorant d’argent soutenu d’un tertre de sinople au 2 d’azur à un senestrochère de carnation sortant d’une nuée mouvant du flanc tenant une bague d’or au 3 d’azur à une chausse-trape d’argent Casque couronné Cimier le bras issant de la couronne entre un vol d’argent. English: Quarterly 1st and 4th gules with a bird soaring argent supported by a hillock vert 2nd azure with a left arm carnation coming out a cloud coming from the flank holding a [jewellery] ring or 3rd azure with a caltrap argent Crowned with a helmet Crest: the arm issuant from the crown between a pair of wings argent.
3) Lorraine – (Comte de l’Empire, 18 mai 1808) – De gueules à un senestrochère armé mouv du flanc tenant une épée en pal le tout d’argent au pal d’or brochant sur le tout et ch de trois chevrons de sable (Comte-pair 31 août 1817) Mêmes armes sauf que le pal est d’argent Devise HONOR ET PATRIA. English: Gules with a left arm armed coming from the flank holding a sword palewise all argent a pale or covering overall and charged with three chevron sable ( since 1817 ) Same coat of arms except that the palets are argent Motto: HONOR ET PATRIA.
4) Nuremberg, Bâle – De gueules à un ours rampant de sable tenant un trèfle de sinople Cimier l’ours issant Lambrequin de sinople et de gueules. English: Gules with a bear rampant sable holding a trefle vert Crest: the bear issuant Mantling: vert and gules.
5) Nuremberg – Parti au 1 d’argent à trois trèfles de sinople rangés en pal au 2 d’azur à un chevreuil rampant d’argent Cimier le chevreuil assis entre deux proboscides d’argent et d’azur Lambrequin d’argent et d’azur. English: Per pale 1st argent three trefles vert arranged palewise 2nd azure with a roe deer rampant argent Crest: the roe deer sejant between two proboscides argent and azure Mantling: argent and azure.
6) Nördlingen (Bavière) – Coupé au 1 d’or à un homme issant posé de profil habillé de sable ceint et boutonné d’or coiffé d’un chapeau de sable et tenant une grappe de raisins pamprée au naturel au 2 d’or à la fasce de sable Cimier l’homme issant. English: Per fess 1st or with a man issuant placed in profile dressed sable belted and buttoned or wearing on the head a hat sable and holding a bunch of grapes leaved proper 2nd or a fess sable Crest: the man issuant.
7) Bavière – (Nob. du St-Empire, 10 sept. 1745) – Écartelé aux 1 et 4 d’or à une licorne rampante de gueules celle du 1 contournée aux 2 et 3 d’azur à un laurier d’or posé sur un mont d’argent Deux casques couronnés Cimiers 1° la licorne du 1 entre deux proboscides d’or Lambrequin d’or et de gueules 2° le laurier entre un vol d’azur Lambrequin d’or et d’azur. English: Quarterly 1st and 4th or with a unicorn rampant gules that of the 1st reversed 2nd and 3rd azure with a laurel or placed over a mount argent Crowned with two helmets Crests: 1st the unicorn of the 1st between two proboscides or Mantling: or and gules 2nd the laurel between a pair of wings azure Mantling: or and azure.
8) Allemagne – D’azur à une rivière en bande ondée Cimier un homme habillé d’argent ceint du même coiffé d’un chapeau de gueules entre deux branches d’arbre de sinople dont il empoigne celle à dextre de sa main dextre la main senestre appuyée sur sa hanche Lambrequin d’or et d’azur. English: Azure with a river bendwise undy Crest: a man dressed argent belted of the same wearing on the head a hat gules between two branch of tree vert which is pointing to that of the dexter with his dexter hand the hand sinister resting on his hip Mantling: or and azure.
9) (Edle von) – Prov. rhénanes – Parti au 1 d’or à la demi-aigle de sable mouvante du parti au 2 coupé a d’azur à une fleur-de-lis d’or b de gueules à une rose de six feuilles d’argent boutonnée d’or Casque couronné Cimier une aigle issante de sable couronnée d’or Lambrequin à dextre d’or et de sable à senestre d’argent et de gueules. English: Per pale 1st or with a demi eagle sable coming from the partition [pale] 2nd per fess a) azure with a fleur de lys or b) gules with a rose of six leaves argent budded or Crowned with a helmet Crest: an eagle issuant from sable crowned or Mantling: to the dexter or and sable to the sinister argent and gules.
10) Fribourg – (Nob. du St-Empire, 21 mai 1792) – D’azur à une colombe d’argent becquée et membrée d’or tenant en son bec un épi du second abaissé la tige en haut. English: Azure with a dove argent beaked and legged or holding in its beak a tuft of the second abased [lower than normal] the stem upwards.
11) Courlande – D’azur à un tau renversé d’argent acc de quatre roses à huit feuilles du même 1 2 et 1. English: Azure with a tau reversed argent accompanied by four roses with eight leaves of the same 1 2 and 1.
12) de Kleine – Écartelé aux 1 et 4 de sable au lion d’or celui du 1 contourné aux 2 et 3 d’azur à la fasce d’argent ch de trois roses à quatre feuilles de gueules Casque couronné Cimier un lion assis de face d’or coiffé d’une toque du même sommée de cinq plumes d’autruche d’or de sable d’argent d’azur et d’or entre deux proboscides celle à dextre d’or à la fasce de sable celle à senestre d’azur à la fasce d’argent Lambrequin conformes aux émaux des proboscides. English: Quarterly 1st and 4th sable a lion or that of the 1st reversed 2nd and 3rd azure a fess argent charged with three roses four leaves gules Crowned with a helmet Crest: a lion sejant facing forwards or wearing on the head a cap of the same surmounted by five ostrich feathers or sable argent azure and or between two proboscides that to the dexter or a fess sable that to the sinister azure a fess argent Mantling: conforming to the [same as] colours of proboscides.
13) Klein de Hermansfels – Bohême – Tiercé en pal d’azur d’argent et de gueules à un sabre d’argent garni d’or et une épée d’argent garnie d’or passés en sautoir brochant sur le tiercé à la champagne d’or ch d’une colline de trois coupeaux de sinople mouvant de la pointe Casque couronné Cimier quatre plumes d’autruche d’argent d’azur d’or et de gueules Lambrequin à dextre d’argent et d’azur à senestre d’or et de gueules. English: Tierced [tripled] palewise azure argent and gules with a sabre argent hilt and pommell or and a sword argent hilt and pommell or placed saltirewise covering over the tierce with the base or charged with a hill of three peaks vert coming of the base Crowned with a helmet Crest: four ostrich feathers argent azure or and gules Mantling: to the dexter argent and azure to the sinister or and gules.
14) Klein de Kleinberg – Allemagne – (An., 1 avril 1866) – Écartelé aux 1 et 4 d’azur à une étoile d’or en chef et une colline de sinople mouvant du flanc de l’écu et sommée d’une maison d’argent aux 2 et 3 de gueules à un bras armé d’argent mouvant du flanc de l’écu la main de carnation tenant un sabre d’argent Casque couronné Cimier un bras armé d’argent posé en pal la main de carnation tenant un sabre d’argent entre un vol d’azur et de gueules Lambrequin à dextre d’or et d’azur à senestre d’argent et de gueules. English: Quarterly 1st and 4th azure with an etoile or in chief and a hill vert coming from the flank of the shield and surmounted by a house argent 2nd and 3rd gules with an arm armoured argent coming from the flank of the shield the hand carnation holding a sabre argent Crowned with a helmet Crest: an arm armed argent placed palewise the hand carnation holding a sabre argent between a pair of wings azure and gules Mantling: to the dexter or and azure to the sinister argent and gules.
- Freiherr Franz Klein von Wisenberg (1851-1930)
15) Klein de Wisenberg – Transylvanie – D’azur à quatre mains jointes de carnation parées d’or issantes de nuées au naturel mouvant des angles de l’écu Deux casques couronnés Cimiers 1° un vol à l’antique l’aile de devant d’or et l’aile de derrière d’azur chaque aile ch d’une barre de l’un à l’autre 2° un lion issant d’or lampassé de gueules tenant de sa patte dextre un maillet et un ciseau au naturel passés en sautoir Lambrequin d’or et d’azur Supports deux lions d’or lampassés de gueules Devise VIRES UNITAE AGUNT. English: Azure four hand joined carnation clothed [dressed] or issuant from clouds proper coming from the corners of the shield Crowned with two helmets Crests: 1st a pair of wings with ancient the wing the front or and the wing of the rear azure each wing charged with a bend sinister counterchanged 2nd a lion issuant or langued gules holding in its paws dexter a mallet [big head small handle] and a pair of scissors proper placed saltirewise Mantling: or and azure Supporters two lion or langued gules Motto: VIRES UNITAE AGUNT.
16) Klein de Wisenberg – Transylvanie – (Barons, 20 juin 1873) – D’or à quatre mains jointes de carnation parées d’azur issantes de nuées au naturel mouvant des angles de l’écu Casque couronné Cimier un avant-bras posé en pal paré d’azur la main de carnation empoignant un faisceau de quatre flèches au naturel empennées d’argent les pointes en haut entre un vol coupé d’or sur azur Lambrequin d’or et d’azur Supports deux lions d’or lampassés de gueules Devise CONCORDIA ET LABORE. English: Or four hands joined carnation clothed [dressed] azure issuant from clouds proper coming from the corners of the shield Crowned with a helmet Crest: a fore-arm placed palewise clothed [dressed] azure the hand carnation holding in its fist a bundle of four arrows proper flighted argent the points upwards between a pair of wings per fess or over azure Mantling: or and azure Supporters two lion or langued gules Motto: CONCORDIA ET LABORE.
- Freiherr Rudolf Klein von Wisenberg (b. 1865)
17) Klein-Königsegg – Prusse orientale – (Barons, 10 juillet 1872) – Écartelé aux 1 et 4 taillé de gueules sur argent à un loup rampant de l’un en l’autre aux 2 et 3 d’or au chevron ployé de sable acc de trois têtes de coq du même Casque couronné Cimier un loup issant d’argent. English: Quarterly 1st and 4th per bend sinister gules over argent with a wolf rampant counterchanged 2nd and 3rd or a chevron curved sable accompanied by three cockerel heads of the same Crowned with a helmet Crest: a wolf issuant argent.
18) Windsheim (Bavière) – (An., 21 sept. 1859) – De gueules à une pointe d’argent dont les bords sont relevés en forme d’une tenture cette pointe ch d’un homme habillé de gueules chaussé du même ceint d’or les bas d’argent coiffé d’une toque de gueules sommée de trois plumes d’autruche une de gueules entre deux d’argent soutenu d’un tertre de sinople tenant de la main dextre un bâton de sable Casque couronné Cimier trois plumes d’autruche une de gueules entre deux d’argent Lambrequin d’argent et de gueules. English: Gules with a base argent of which the edges are raised in the form of a curtain this base charged with a man dressed gules chausse [division from middle base to top dex & sin] of the same belted or the stockings argent wearing on the head a cap gules surmounted by three ostrich feathers a gules between two argent standing on a hillock vert holding in the dexter hand a [ragged staff] baton sable Crowned with a helmet Crest: three ostrich feathers a gules between two argent Mantling: argent and gules.
19) Bâle – D’azur à une flèche d’argent en bande côtoyée de quatre étoiles d’or Bourlet d’or et d’azur Cimier deux flèches d’argent passées en sautoir. English: Azure with an arrow argent bendwise surrounded by four etoiles or wreath on the helmet or and azure Crest: two arrows argent placed saltirewise.
