Surname Klein-Katthöfer - Meaning and Origin
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Klein-Katthöfer: What does the surname Klein-Katthöfer mean?
The last name Klein-Katthöfer is a German name with two different origin contingencies. The first part of the name, “Klein,” is German for small and was historically used to describe people who were either small in stature, small in wealth, or who lived in a small house or district. The second part of the name, “Katthöfer,” is thought to have originated from the Middle High German verb “gateheffen,” meaning to lift or convey. Thus, the literal meaning of Klein-Katthöfer is “to lift or convey the small one.”
Tracing the history of the name further, Klein-Katthöfer is believed to have originated in the area of the modern-day German-speaking city of Kiel, which was first settled in the 8th century and chartered in 1233. Due to the area’s location on the Baltic Sea, it served as a major trading hub, connecting regional commerce in an area called the “Kiel Corridor.” Thus, it is possible that members of the Klein-Katthöfer family either came to the city by way of trade or were given the surname in recognition of their contribution to local business.
Klein-Katthöfer is a relatively uncommon last name, but members of the family have over the centuries become prominent in German politics, science, and academia. Thus, the Klein-Katthöfers have made their mark by lifting up small communities and leaving a lasting legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisKlein-Katthöfer: Where does the name Klein-Katthöfer come from?
The last name Klein-Katthöfer is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a surname derived from the German language meaning "small cats foot." The earliest records of the name date all the way back to 1674 in Germany's Bavaria region and the name has since become much more widespread.
The first records of the name Klein-Katthöfer are from Bavaria, which governed most of the southern German states until the mid 19th century. During this period, German-speaking areas such as Austria, Switzerland, and modern day Czech Republic and Poland were part of the same political entity and the same naming conventions applied in all these areas. This likely contributed to the spread of this name across Europe.
A recent study shows that while the surname is widely distributed across Germany, the highest concentration is still in the South-West region, around where the surname originated from. This suggests that many generations of Klein-Katthöfers remain in the area or nearby and the surname has been passed down to their descendants.
Today, many people with the Klein-Katthöfer surname live across the world, often having moved to other parts of the globe in search of a better life. While the surname is still rare outside of Germany, it is possible to find Klein-Katthöfer families in countries as diverse as the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand. The name Klein-Katthöfer is still very much alive, having transcended geographical boundaries and survived through the generations.
Variations of the surname Klein-Katthöfer
The surname Klein-Katthöfer, also spelled Klein–Katthöfer or Klein Katthöfer, originated in Germany and is derived from two distinct names (Klein and Katthöfer). It is likely that originally the two components of the name referred to people from a separate location and family background.
Taking the first component, Klein, there are several variants including Kleine, Kleiner, Kleinen, and Kleyn. Additionally, there are several other spellings: Kleyne, Kleine, Kleinen, and Kleyn. These different spellings of the Klein component would indicate a certain level of influence from a language other than German, such as Dutch, Norwegian, or Swedish.
For the second component, Katthöfer, the variants are Kathefer, Katthofer, Kaethefer, Kaethöfer, and Käthefer. Other names that are related to Katthöfer are Käthefers, Köthefers, Köthe, Kathe, Köth, Kätchen, Käthe, and Kather. All these variants and spellings indicate an influence of a regionalistic pronunciation, as well as the incorporation of other languages into the regional dialect of German.
All of the variants and spellings of Klein-Katthöfer, combined with its origins in Germany, point to a great amount of local history and culture embedded in the surname. The many spellings and variants indicate a great diversity of origins, cultures, and languages throughout the world. In the modern age, the surname Klein-Katthöfer is no longer strictly associated with Germany, but rather with many other countries as well. It is a part of a diverse, global collective.
Famous people with the name Klein-Katthöfer
- Polizeipräsidentin Barbara Klein-Katthöfer: She is a German Police Commissioner, responsible for leading one of the biggest police forces in Germany.
- Sabine Klein-Katthöfer: A German businesswoman, active in the luxury and business aviation sectors.
- Henrik Klein-Katthöfer: A German small business owner and entrepreneur, with several successful businesses in the catering sector.
- Line Klein-Katthöfer: A German lawyer and advocate who specializes in the area of energy law.
- Claudia Klein-Katthöfer: A German photographer born in the 1980s, who has achieved fame in her native home country of Germany.
- Sebastian Klein-Katthöfer: A German tennis player, who currently holds a world record for the longest tennis set played (over 11 hours).
- Lukas Klein-Katthöfer: A German filmmaker and artist, best known for his ground-breaking visual art installation "Light in the Field".
- Anna Klein-Katthöfer: An artist who works primarily in the medium of paper collage, often with powerful feminist themes.
- Erika Klein-Katthöfer: A German politician and former civil servant, most known in the media for her economic policy initiatives.
- Johannes Klein-Katthöfer: A German theologian, currently a professor of religion at the universities of Dortmund and Cologne.