Klein History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

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 Klein, or one of its variants above:

Klein Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Uldrich Klein, who arrived in New York City in 1641 with his wife Afje Pieters
• Aefje Pieters Klein, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1641 5
• Ulrich Klein, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1641 5
• Willemyntje Huygens De Klein, who landed in America in 1680 5

Klein Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Peter Klein, who arrived in New York in 1709 5
• Amalia Klein, Anna Klein, Henrich Klein, Hieronymus Klein, Jacob Klein, and Johann William Klein all arriving in New York in 1709
• Hieronymus Klein, who landed in New York in 1709 5
• Amalia Klein, aged 12, who landed in New York in 1710 5
• Anna Eliz Klein, aged 6, who arrived in New York in 1710 5
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Klein Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Hector Klein, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1802 5
• Frederick H Klein, who landed in Ohio in 1816 5
• Philipp Klein, who arrived in Brazil in 1828 5
• Francis A Klein, who landed in America in 1838 5
• Wilhelm Klein, who arrived in Texas in 1840-1850 5
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Klein Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Samuel Klein, who landed in Arkansas in 1906 5

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Klein Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

• Franziska Klein, aged 4, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
• Friedrich Klein, aged 24, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
• Barbara Klein, aged 17, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
• Dominik Klein, aged 24, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
• Edward Klein, aged 14, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902

Klein Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Johann Georg Klein, aged 33, a tanner, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Malvina Vidal"
• Johanna Christiane Klein, aged 23, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Victoria"

• William Klein (1926-2022), American-born French photographer and filmmaker noted for his unique approach to the medium, ranked 25th on Professional Photographer's list of 100 most influential photographers.awarded the Prix Nadar in 1957, the Royal Photographic Society's Centenary Medal and Honorary Fellowship (HonFRPS) in 1999, and the Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award at the Sony World Photography Awards in 2011
• John Anthony Klein III (1942-2017), American professional baseball executive director of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
• Gerda Weissmann Klein (b. 1924), Polish-born American writer and human rights activist, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
• Charles Herbert "Chuck" Klein (1904-1958), American Major League Baseball outfielder
• Lawrence Robert Klein (1920-2013), American economist, laureate of Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (1980), recipient of the John Bates Clark Medal (1959)
• David Klein (b. 1919), American diplomatist, was president of the German-American Partnership program 1977-85, as well as special assistant for Foreign Affairs to the president
• Calvin Richard Klein (b. 1942), immensely popular American fashion designer and was named to the Coty Hall of Fame
• Carole Klein (b. 1942), birth name of Carole King, American singer, songwriter, and pianist, best known for her album Tapestry which topped the U.S. album chart for 15 weeks
• Anna M. Klein, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maine, 2000 6
• Ann Klein, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Governor of New Jersey, 1973; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1980 6
• ... (Another 88 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck

• Willy Klein (1920-1941), German Signalgefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 7
• Fritz Klein (1915-1941), German Mechanikersmaat who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 7
• Paul Klein (1920-1941), German Funkgefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 7
• Bruno Klein (1920-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 7

Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)

• Patricia Ann Klein (1953-1988), American Social Worker from Trenton, New Jersey, America, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 8

RMS Lusitania

• Mr. Charles Klein, English 1st Class Passenger from London, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 9

RMS Titanic

• Mr. Herbert Klein (d. 1912), aged 33, English Barber from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 10

Triangle Waist Company

• Mr. Jacob Klein (b. 1888), Russian Jewish garment worker who was working at Triangle Waist Company factory at the Asch building in Greenwich Village on the 25th March 1911 when fire broke out; he died in the fire 11
• Miss Jennie Klein, American worker who was at Triangle Waist Company factory at the Asch building in Greenwich Village on the 25th March 1911 when fire broke out; she survived the fire 11

• Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist
• Family Crests: Timeline
• Family Crests: Elements
• Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate
• Hereditary surnames
• Rhineland
• Nickname
• Spelling variations
• Westphalians
• Netherlands
• First Fleets
• Ellis Island
• Australia
• England

• The Klein Family from Holland by John Snell.
• The Klein Family History by Harold A. Weinberger.