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

Kling, 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 Kling surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kling in America

Kling is the 4598th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kling surname appeared 7,713 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Kling.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kling 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 Kling

The surname "KLING" is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "klinc," meaning a metal bar or latch. It likely originated as an occupational surname for a locksmith or metalworker in the 13th or 14th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Stadtbücher (city records) of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria, in 1407, when a Cuntz Klinck is mentioned as a resident. The name is also found in the records of Nuremberg, with a Johann Klinck listed as a citizen in 1481.

In the 16th century, variations such as Klingk, Klincke, and Klinger emerged, reflecting regional dialects and spelling conventions. The name's association with metalworking trades is evident in the entry for Hans Klinck in the Zunftrollen (guild rolls) of Frankfurt am Main in 1568, where he is identified as a locksmith.

While not as prominent as some other German surnames, the Kling name has a long and well-documented history. Notable individuals bearing this name include Johann Adam Kling (1688-1758), a German theologian and author from Hesse; Friedrich Wilhelm Kling (1765-1842), a German lawyer and statesman who served as the first Minister of Justice for the Grand Duchy of Baden; and Karl Kling (1901-1983), a German racing driver who competed in the first Formula One World Championship in 1950.

In later centuries, the name spread beyond its initial heartland in southern Germany. For instance, Johann Gottlieb Kling (1778-1854) was a noted theologian and educator from Saxony, while Johann Friedrich Kling (1808-1886) was a prominent architect and builder from Württemberg, responsible for numerous churches and public buildings in that region.

Despite its German roots, the Kling surname can also be found in other parts of Europe, likely due to migration and intermarriage over the centuries. For example, the Swedish composer and organist Joakim Kling (1685-1736) hailed from Östergötland, and the Russian writer and journalist Boris Kling (1863-1928) was born in Saint Petersburg.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kling

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

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 Kling 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 Kling 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 Kling was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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