Kleyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Scotland

The name Kleyn 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. Kleyn is a nickname surname, a style of name based on an eke-name, or added name, that described a characteristic of its original bearer. Kleyn is a name for a small or short person deriving its origin from the German word "klien," which means "small."

Early Origins of the Kleyn family

The surname Kleyn 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 Kleyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kleyn 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 Kleyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kleyn Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Kleyn include Klein, Kleinn, Kleine, Kleinne, Kleyn, Kleynn, Kline, Clein, Clein, Cline, Kleiner, Klinertz and many more.

Early Notables of the Kleyn family

Notables with the name Kleyn 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 Kleyn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kleyn migration to the United States +

Between the 17th and 20th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Europeans came to North America, and many Rhinelanders were among them. They had many various reasons for making the choice: to escape poverty and persecution, for adventure, and for the opportunity to own their own land. Ellis Island, one of the main American immigration centers, saw many settlers as they moved on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, and New York. In Canada, they found homes in Ontario, and on the great plains of the Midwestern provinces. The Kleyn were among of the early German families that came to North America:

Kleyn Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Willemyntje Huygens De Kleyn, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1680 1

Kleyn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Koenraet Kleyn, who arrived in New York in 1709 1
Lodewyk Kleyn, who landed in New York in 1709 1
Ludwig Kleyn, who arrived in New York in 1709 1
Michael Kleyn, who landed in New York in 1709 1
Hans Willem Kleyn, who landed in New York in 1709 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kleyn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Heinr Kleyn, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1802 1

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)