| ![Show Contents]() Klinefelter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany The name Klinefelter comes from the German province known as the Rhineland. In pre-medieval times, the German people used only one name, but as the population increased, hereditary surnames became necessary for people to maintain unique identities. Klinefelter is a nickname surname, a style of name based on an eke-name, or added name, that described a characteristic of its original bearer. Klinefelter is a name for a small or short person deriving its origin from the German word "klien," which means "small." Early Origins of the Klinefelter familyThe surname Klinefelter was first found in the Rhineland, where the name came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. It later became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates and branches, some in foreign countries, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society. Early History of the Klinefelter familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Klinefelter research. Another 246 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1590, 1609, 1658, 1666, 1708, 1745, 1761, 1777, 1790, 1818, 1849 and 1925 are included under the topic Early Klinefelter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Klinefelter Spelling VariationsIn the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Klinefelter include Klein, Kleinn, Kleine, Kleinne, Kleyn, Kleynn, Kline, Clein, Clein, Cline, Kleiner, Klinertz and many more. Early Notables of the Klinefelter familyNotables with the name Klinefelter during this period were Daniel Klein (1609-1666), Lutheran pastor and scholar from Tilsit, Duchy of Prussia; and Felix Klein (1849-1925), who was an important German mathematician, founder of the institute of mathematics in Goettingen, and very influential...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Klinefelter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Klinefelter migration to the United States | + |
The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from the Rhineland who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. Many of those who left the Rhineland to seek their fortunes in the prosperous and free New World settled in the major urban centers of the United States and Canada. In the United States, the settlers from the Rhineland passed through immigration centers like that of Ellis Island, most of them moving on to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, and New York. In Canada, the majority of Rhinelanders settled in Ontario and the prairie provinces. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has revealed many important settlers to North America bearing the name Klinefelter, or one of its variants above:
Klinefelter Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- George Klinefelter, aged 51, arrived in New York in 1911 aboard the ship "Prinz Sigismund" from Kingston, Jamaica 1
| Contemporary Notables of the name Klinefelter (post 1700) | + |
- Harry Fitch Klinefelter Jr. (1912-1990), American rheumatologist and endocrinologist who identified Klinefelter's syndrome
- Jeremiah C. Klinefelter, American politician, First Selectman of Darien, Connecticut, 1896; Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Darien 2
- Harry F. Klinefelter, American politician, Delegate to Maryland convention to ratify 21st amendment, 1933 2
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Klinefelter migration to the United States 
