Find out how popular the last name Klain is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Klain.

Klain, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Klain surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Klain in America

Klain is the 56073rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Klain surname appeared 365 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Klain.

We can also compare 2010 data for Klain to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Klain

The surname KLAIN is of German origin, arising in the medieval period. It is derived from the Old High German word "klain," meaning "small" or "little." This name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for a person of diminutive stature or as a means of differentiating between individuals with the same first name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KLAIN surname appears in the Codex Traditionum Ecclesiae Rastedensis, a 13th-century manuscript from the Rastede Abbey in Lower Saxony. This document mentions a certain "Henricus Kleyne," suggesting the name's presence in northern Germany during that era.

In the 14th century, the KLAIN surname can be found in the Stadtbücher (city books) of Nuremberg, a significant imperial city in the Holy Roman Empire. The spelling variants "Kleyn" and "Kleynn" are documented in these records, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings in that period.

One notable bearer of the KLAIN name was Hans Klain (c. 1460-1516), a German Renaissance painter and woodcarver from Nuremberg. His works adorned numerous churches and buildings in the city, showcasing the artistic talent associated with this surname.

In the 16th century, the KLAIN surname appeared in the village of Kleinheubach, located in the present-day state of Bavaria. The town's name, which translates to "small brook," may have influenced the surname's development in that region.

Another individual of note was Johann Klain (1618-1672), a German composer and organist who served at the Marienkirche in Lübeck. His compositions for organ and sacred choral works contributed to the rich musical heritage of northern Germany.

As the KLAIN surname spread across German-speaking regions, it also found its way into other European countries through migration and intermarriage. For instance, in the 18th century, a branch of the KLAIN family settled in the Netherlands, where the name was recorded as "Kleine" or "Kleyn."

While these examples provide a glimpse into the historical presence of the KLAIN surname, it is worth noting that many other individuals bearing this name have undoubtedly played significant roles throughout history, though their stories may have been lost to time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Klain

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Klain.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Klain was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Klain has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Klain was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Klain, please contact us.

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