Surname Klingemeyer - Meaning and Origin

Klingemeyer: What does the surname Klingemeyer mean?

The last name Klingemeyer is of German origin meaning “a wee bit of a meadow”. It likely originates from the Middle German word “klingen” meaning “to tinkle” or “to ring” with the addition of the word “meyer” meaning “meadow”. The marriage of the two words likely created the term “Klingemeyer”, which came to describe a small, grassy area.

In the Middle Ages, families often adopted last names to help distinguish them from one another. Even though last names eventually became hereditary, they were first used as an identifier for what the family did or where they lived. This is likely the case with the Klingemeyer surname, reflecting the family's origin of coming from a 'wee bit of a meadow'.

Klingemeyer is quite a rare name; however, it is mainly found in Germany today. This may be the result of the name being a relatively late development and many of the Klingemeyers not leaving their birthplace. Despite its rarity, variations of the surname still exist in countries like Poland, Austria, and the Netherlands.

The last name Klingemeyer may have a rather innocent meaning, but it's a unique identifier for a family who claims it. It's a reminder of their storied past and of their humble beginnings in a small meadow.

Klingemeyer: Where does the name Klingemeyer come from?

The last name Klingemeyer is today most commonly found in Germany, with most Klingemeyers residing in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Klingemeyer is a German surname derived from the Middle High German verb "kelen mit eyer," meaning to "cleave with an axe," indicating that Klingemeyers are likely descended from someone who worked in the lumber industry.

In the United States, the Klingemeyer family is found mostly in Indiana and Illinois, with several small populations in California and Maryland. Census records from 1850 show Klingemeyers in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Klingemeyers in some of these states likely originated from a group of immigrants who settled in the area between 1800 and 1840.

In Australia, the Klingemeyer name is found inVictoria and New South Wales. The Klingemeyer family in Australia likely originated from immigrants that settled in the state during the Gold Rush of the 1850s and 1860s.

Klingemeyer is also found in smaller numbers in the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands. The Klingemeyer family in these countries descended from immigrants that settled in the countries between the 16th and 18th centuries.

The Klingemeyer name today is relatively rare, but a few thousand Klingemeyers are found in Germany, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Variations of the surname Klingemeyer

The surname Klingemeyer has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These are Klingemeier, Klingemueller, Klingener, Klingensmith, Klinger, Klingermann, Kleinemeyer, Kleingmeyer, Klinkmeyer, Klinkmueller, Kycler, and Kyclyer.

Klingemeyer is a Germanic name (of Teutonic origin) meaning “son of the swordmaker” or “son of the armorer”. As such, many similar surnames, particularly those beginning with “Klingen” (German for “sword”) may be variations of this surname.

Klingemeyer can also be derivatives of a place-name, with Klingemeyer probably referring to someone who originated in several Austrian towns named Klingenmünster, such as Klingenmünster near Salzburg. In this case, variant spellings of the same place-name result in variations of the name Klingemeyer (Klinkmeyer, Klinkmueller, etc.).

Variations of Klingemeyer can also be attributed to dialectical differences in pronunciation of the name. For instance, in some regions the name “Klingemeyer” is pronounced as “Kleingmeyer” or “Kleinemeyer”, resulting in two variations of the name that look quite distinct from the original. In such cases, the similarity of the names is purely coincidental.

In conclusion, the surname Klingemeyer has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common are those beginning with “Klingen”, but variations can also be attributed to dialectical differences and place-names.

Famous people with the name Klingemeyer

• Gunner Z. Klingemeyer: An American politician from Ohio who served in the Ohio House of Representatives from the 9th District.
• Lawrence Klingemeyer: A Major League Baseball pitcher who appeared in two games for the St. Louis Browns in 1918.
• Kim Klingemeyer: A former professional stock car driver and team owner, who competed in the International Race of Champions.
• Rene Klingemeyer: An American artist and sculptor, although primarily a jewelry designer.
• Hannah Klingemeyer: An Australian paralympic swimmer who has competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics and the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
• Laura Klingemeyer: An American musician from South Carolina, who is the Lead Alto Saxophonist for the popular band Grace & Grit.
• Barry Klingemeyer: An American animation director and storyboard artist.
• Jeffrey Klingemeyer: An American football player who played as a linebacker for the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe.

Other surnames

Klingemeier