Kline
A common Americanized German and Dutch surname, usually from a word meaning “small” or “little.”
The #761 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 6,802 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Kline is most likely an Americanized spelling of German Klein or Dutch klein, both meaning “small” or “little.” As a surname, it would originally have been a nickname for a small person, or sometimes a way of distinguishing a younger or smaller family member. The spelling Kline became common in English-speaking countries as immigrants adapted the name to local spelling habits.
History
The name is especially common in the United States among families of German and Dutch ancestry. Nineteenth- and early twentieth-century surname writers regularly treated Kline as a variant of Klein, and they also noted related spellings such as Cline. Over time, Kline became established as an independent-looking English spelling even when the underlying family name remained Germanic.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname handbooks often grouped Kline with other Americanized forms where initial K or C could vary, reflecting how fluid spelling was before standardization.
From the historical record
“= Dut. klein, small = Eng. clean] Often Anglicized as Kline, KLUGE (Ger.) Wise, Prudent, Clever [Ger. Mug, wise, etc. ; M.H.Ger. kluog, kluoc, fine, nice, wise, brave, etc. = Dut. kloek, brave, sagacious] '”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)Notable people named Kline
- Kevin Kline (b. 1947)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.