Surname Klingen - Meaning and Origin
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Klingen: What does the surname Klingen mean?
The last name Klingen is an occupational surname of German origin. It is derived from the word "klingen," meaning "to sound, ring, echoes, clash," specifically in reference to metalworking.
The earliest known recorded use of the surname "Klingen" dates back to 1430 in Germany, when one Joannes Klingen was mentioned in the registers of the Church of St. Sebald in Nuremberg. It was first found in Saxony, an area of Germany that lies just to the east of the center of Germany, and today is the province of Saxony-Anhalt.
In more modern times, the surname Klingen is still most commonly found in Germany. The name is also found in several other European countries, including Austria, Switzerland, and Czechoslovakia, as well as in the United States and Canada.
The associated coat of arms for the surname Klingen is described as a shield divided in two halves: one half is black with a silver bell on it, and the other is silver with three black bells. The crest is a silver bell surrounded by three black bells.
Given its old German roots, the last name Klingen may symbolize a long-standing tradition of metalworking or the sound of hope, success, and prosperity.
Order DNA origin analysisKlingen: Where does the name Klingen come from?
The surname Klingen is commonly found in areas with German-speaking populations. It is most prevalent in Germany, where it ranks number 1,258 out of 88,800 in terms of frequency. It is also very popular in Austria, ranking 1,786 out of 53,750 surnames. Furthermore, Klingen is found throughout Eastern European countries such as Hungary, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic. It can also be found in more far-flung countries and regions such as the United States, Canada, India, New Zealand, Israel, and Australia. The surname is particularly common in the United States, ranking 7,783 out of 150,092 in terms of frequency.
The origin of the surname is not known for certain, but it is thought to be derived from the Old German word "klinge," which means to chime or ring. The surname is also related to the Latin word "clangor," which means to resound.
Klingen is an occupational surname, referring to individuals who worked with ringing or sounding instruments such as bells. Furthermore, Klingen is also believed to have been used as a topographic surname, referring to individuals who lived by a church or near a place that was famous for bells.
Today, Klingen remains one of the most common surnames in German-speaking countries. It is also found around the world, providing intriguing evidence of the wide reach of German culture and heritage.
Variations of the surname Klingen
Klingen is a German surname, derived from the Middle High German klingen which means "to ring or tinkle". Variants of this surname include Klinger, Klingner, Klingberg, Klingelnberg, Klingelhofer, and Klingebiel. It is also spelled as Kleyngen, Klinngen, Klinghe, Klingensteyner, Klingheym and Klingenböhl.
Klingen can also contain the prefixes- von, von der, zu, and zur which denote nobility to the bearer. Variations such as von Klingen, von der Klingen, zu Klingen, and zur Klingen originate from this.
Klingen is also found as an Ashkenazi Jewish surname. Variations of this include Klingenfeld, Klingensmith, Klingenberger, Klingerstein, and Klingenschlag.
Klingen is a variant of the old Germanic personal name- Kling. Variations of this other surname include Klingler, Klinger, Klingensmith, Klingelschmitt, Klingelhoefer, and Klingenberg.
Klingen has also been found as a variant of the older German name Khalen, as in Kechelan, Kehelen, Kalen, Kaelen, Khelen, and Khellen.
Overall, Klingen is most commonly found as a German surname, but is found as a variant of other names in Ashkenazi, Germanic and other European cultures. Variations of the same surname cover a wide range of spelling, show evidence of noble descent with the use of the prefixes and contain old variants of other related names.
Famous people with the name Klingen
- Susanne Klingen: German actress known for her roles in Die Ehe der Maria Braun, Three Penny Opera, and Eva
- Dave Klingen: Emmy Award-winning television producer and director
- Hans Klingen, German stage and film actor
- Udo Klingen, German field and track athlete
- Gerta Klingen, German actress in the 1940's
- Jakob Klingen, German private tutor, educator, and composer
- August Klingen, German Protestant theologian
- Linda Klingen, Swiss writer and politician
- Agnes Klingen, Austrian film actress
- Ulrich Klingen, German designer, author, and philosopher.