Surname Klingelmann - Meaning and Origin

Klingelmann: What does the surname Klingelmann mean?

The last name Klingelmann is of Germanic origin and is derived from two elements: the Old High German “Kling,” meaning “small bell,” and “mann,” meaning “man.” Literally, the name translates to “man of the bell.” This may have been descriptive of an individual who was a bell-ringer or bore a bell as an emblem, perhaps a bell-ringer for the lord of the manor, a position of considerable importance in pre-modern Germany. Alternatively, Klingelmann may refer to a maker of bells, typically a smith or bell-founder who practiced a trade in tinkers rings.

The Klingelmann surname was likely first found in southern Germany, due to the oroigin of the name. It is recorded in various Nuremburg documents, including the marriage of Jorg Klingelmann to Magdalena Goppert, which occurred in 1698 in Bayern, Germany. The Klingelmann family of Bavaria was awarded the title of Baron in many parts of Germany. Records of the name also appear in other German-speaking regions, such as Prussia, Austria, and Bohemia.

Today, there are Klingelmann families across Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and North and South America.

Klingelmann: Where does the name Klingelmann come from?

The last name Klingelmann appears to be mainly concentrated in Germany today. According to forebears.io, this last name had over 2,500 records in Germany alone in 2020. It also appears to be relatively popular in Switzerland, with 656 records in 2020. Compared to other countries, this last name appears to be quite rare. For example, it only had 2 records in Italy in 2020, and 30 records in the United States.

The origins of the last name Klingelmann are likely German. The name is derived from a combination of the German words 'klingeln' and 'mann', meaning 'bellman'. This points to a likely occupational origin, similar to other German and Prussian names related to a trade or craft.

In Germany today, people with the last name Klingelmann have professional roles in the public and private sector, from finance to engineering and more. They also appear to be active in German politics and civil society.

Overall, the last name Klingelmann appears to be mainly concentrated in Germany and Switzerland today. With origins in Germany and an occupational origin, it is likely that the largest concentrations of Klingelmanns live in these two countries.

Variations of the surname Klingelmann

Klingelmann is a German and Dutch surname, possibly originating from a name derived from the Middle Low German word klinken, meaning “ring” or one who lives near a bell tower. Variants of this surname include Kleinmann, Klinkelman, Klinkelmacher, Klingelhofer, Klingelmacher, Klingelmeyer, Klingelmoore, Klingelmueller, and Klingelmulder. In addition, the Dutch surname spelling of Klingelman is also derived from the same root.

Kleinmann is a variation of the name, derived from the German word klein, meaning “small”. This surname can be found in both Germany and the Netherlands.

Klinkelman is a combination of the words klinken and man, and is sometimes seen written as Klingelmaan as well. This means “ring man”, and is another variation of Klingelmann.

Klinkelmacher is the German form of this name, and it refers to someone who makes bells. It is derived from the Middle Low German word klinken and the common German suffix -macher.

Klingelhofer is a combination of the words klinken and hofer, which means “court” in Middle Low German. This is another variant of Klingelmann, and could refer to one who resided at or near the court (castle).

Klingelmacher is a different spelling of the surname, derived from the Middle Low Germanword klinken and the common German suffix -macher. This means “ring maker”, and was likely given to someone who worked with bells. It can also be seen written as Klingelmöller or Klingelmüller.

Klingelmeyer is the German form of the surname, derived from the Middle Low German word klinken and the common German suffix -meyer. This means “ring man” or “ring holder”.

Klingelmoore is a variation of the name, possibly derived from the Middle Low German word klinken and the common German suffix -moor. This refers to someone who lived near a peat bog or marsh.

Klingelmueller is another variant of the name, derived from the Middle Low German word klinken and the common German suffix -müller. This refers to someone who owned or worked with a corn mill.

Klingelmulder is the Dutch variant of Klingelmann, derived from the Middle Low German word klinken and the common Dutch suffix -mulder. This means “bell miller” and was likely given to someone who owned or worked with a mill.

Finally, Klingelman is an alternative spelling of the name, used in the Netherlands. It is derived from the Middle Low German word klinken, but the suffix is of Dutch origin.

Famous people with the name Klingelmann

• Thomas Klingelmann: commissioned officer in the Royal Danish Army and later politician who served as the chairman of the conservative Folketing party in Denmark from 2001 to 2004.
• Max Klingelmann: composer and pianist whose work was greatly influenced by the romantic era of music.
• Franz Klingelmann: German teacher and scholar who wrote various works in German philosophy, theology, history and archaeology.
• Prince Ernst August Klingelmann: consort to Queen Victoria and founder of the Small Grouse Hunting Charity in Germany.
• Johann Peter Klingelmann: German theologian and author who wrote biographies of Albert Wittenberg and Martin Luther.
• Emma Klingelmann: German soprano singer who sang widely throughout Europe.
• Wilhelm Klingelmann: Prussian statesman and friend of Otto von Bismarck.
• August Klingelmann: German government minister and one of the founders of the German Empire in 1871.
• Esther-Miriam Klingelmann: politician and member of the Dutch house of representatives from 2015 to 2017.
• Arnold Karl Johan Klingelmann: Swedish geologist and mineralogist who wrote works on mineralogy and metallurgy.

Other surnames

Klingelmeier