NameCensus.

UK surname

Klein

A German and Jewish surname referring to someone of small stature or a junior member of a family.

In the 1881 census there were 360 people recorded with the Klein surname, ranking it #8,596 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,651, ranked #3,776, up from #8,596 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Salford and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Klein is 1,651 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 358.6%.

1881 census count

360

Ranked #8,596

Modern count

1,651

2016, ranked #3,776

Peak year

2016

1,651 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Klein had 360 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,596 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,651 in 2016, ranked #3,776.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 932 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Klein surname distribution map

The map shows where the Klein surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Klein surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Klein over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 25 #28,853
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 360 #8,596
1891 historical 449 #8,085
1901 historical 736 #6,018
1911 historical 932 #4,815
1997 modern 1,188 #4,746
1998 modern 1,268 #4,671
1999 modern 1,328 #4,507
2000 modern 1,334 #4,465
2001 modern 1,282 #4,539
2002 modern 1,310 #4,541
2003 modern 1,340 #4,371
2004 modern 1,373 #4,298
2005 modern 1,358 #4,291
2006 modern 1,393 #4,211
2007 modern 1,435 #4,151
2008 modern 1,418 #4,218
2009 modern 1,490 #4,139
2010 modern 1,595 #3,961
2011 modern 1,557 #4,018
2012 modern 1,546 #3,971
2013 modern 1,583 #3,949
2014 modern 1,617 #3,905
2015 modern 1,628 #3,840
2016 modern 1,651 #3,776

Geography

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Where Kleins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, London parishes, Manchester and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hackney, Salford and Barnet. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hackney 001 Hackney
2 Hackney 029 Hackney
3 Hackney 003 Hackney
4 Salford 010 Salford
5 Barnet 037 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Klein

These lists show first names that appear often with the Klein surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Klein

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Klein, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Klein surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Klein household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Klein is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Klein is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Klein falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Klein is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Klein, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Klein

The surname "Klein" is of German origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "klein," which means "small" or "little." The name was likely given as a descriptive surname to someone who was short in stature or a younger sibling.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "Klein" can be found in various German regions, particularly in the areas of Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. One of the earliest known records dates back to the 13th century, where a person named "Heinrich der Kleine" (Henry the Small) was mentioned in a manuscript from the city of Cologne.

In the 14th century, the surname "Klein" appeared in several municipal records and tax rolls across German territories. For example, a certain "Konrad Klein" was listed as a landowner in the town of Nuremberg in 1365.

The name "Klein" was also found in some notable historical documents, such as the "Deutsches Städtebuch" (German Book of Cities), a compilation of city records from the late Middle Ages. In this book, several individuals with the surname "Klein" were recorded as residents of various German towns and cities.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname "Klein." One of the earliest was Johannes Klein (1435-1508), a German cartographer and mathematician who created one of the earliest globes depicting the New World.

Another prominent figure was Johann Samuel Klein (1745-1814), a German-born physician and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of insects and other invertebrates.

In the 19th century, Felix Klein (1849-1925) was a renowned German mathematician who made groundbreaking contributions to the fields of geometry and group theory.

More recently, Calvin Klein (born 1942) is a famous American fashion designer known for establishing a global fashion and lifestyle brand bearing his surname.

It is also worth mentioning that the surname "Klein" has also been adapted into various languages and cultures, such as the French "Petit" and the Dutch "de Kleine," which share a similar meaning and origin.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Klein families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Klein surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 227 Kleins recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.45x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 227 6.45x
Lancashire 24 0.57x
Yorkshire 19 0.54x
Surrey 17 0.99x
Kent 13 1.08x
Staffordshire 10 0.84x
Berkshire 6 2.27x
Sussex 6 1.01x
Warwickshire 6 0.68x
Norfolk 5 0.92x
Cornwall 4 1.00x
Durham 4 0.38x
Monmouthshire 4 1.57x
Cumberland 3 0.99x
Gloucestershire 3 0.43x
Devon 2 0.27x
Hampshire 2 0.28x
Angus 1 0.31x
Berwickshire 1 2.35x
Hertfordshire 1 0.41x
Midlothian 1 0.21x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.89x
Royal Navy 1 2.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 24 Kleins recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.77x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 24 12.77x
St George In East London 20 60.39x
Bethnal Green London 18 11.77x
Kensington London 18 9.19x
Spitalfields London 18 67.95x
Mile End Old Town London 13 17.34x
Paddington London 13 10.04x
St Pancras London 13 4.59x
Islington London 12 3.52x
Deptford St Paul 11 11.87x
Manchester 11 5.85x
Mile End New Town London 10 143.68x
Whitechapel London 10 28.81x
Fulham London 9 17.62x
Moss Side 9 40.93x
Old Artillery Ground 9 297.03x
Hammersmith London 8 9.22x
Huntington 8 3809.52x
Hackney London 7 3.55x
Camberwell 6 2.67x
Reading St Mary 6 28.34x
St Luke London 6 10.62x
Birmingham 5 1.69x
Burton In Lonsdale 5 666.67x
Hunstanton 5 273.22x
Hastings Holy Trinity 4 91.32x
Holy Trinity 4 4.77x
Rotherhithe 4 9.19x
Scilly Islands 4 555.56x
York St Crux 4 404.04x
Bishopwearmouth 3 3.34x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 4.61x
Hampstead London 3 5.47x
Lambeth 3 0.98x
Shoreditch London 3 1.97x
St Mary Within 3 79.16x
Abergavenny 2 20.99x
Acaster Malbis 2 625.00x
Carlton In Leyburn 2 666.67x
Croydon 2 2.10x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 3.54x
St Botolph Aldersgate 2 49.51x
St George Hanover Square 2 3.22x
St Giles In Fields London 2 11.57x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.59x
Thirsk 2 49.63x
Aighton Bailey 1 49.75x
Aston 1 0.41x
Baldock 1 43.86x
Bermondsey 1 0.95x
Beswick 1 9.35x
Brading 1 10.43x
Coldingham 1 26.11x
Cuckfield 1 16.67x
Ditton 1 58.48x
Dundee 1 0.82x
Fareham 1 11.53x
Frant 1 23.75x
Greenwich 1 1.78x
Hulme 1 1.15x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.43x
Leith South 1 153.85x
Lewisham 1 1.56x
Little Stanmore 1 96.15x
Newport 1 8.24x
Pembroke St Mary 1 6.94x
Poplar London 1 1.50x
Royal Navy 1 2.79x
St Anne Soho London 1 4.97x
St Michael Le Querne 1 1250.00x
St Woollos 1 3.52x
Sunderland 1 5.41x
Westminster St James 1 2.76x
Westminster St John 1 2.33x
Westminster St Margaret 1 5.89x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Klein surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Klein surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Charles 17
John 10
George 8
Abraham 6
Frederick 6
Jacob 6
Henry 5
Louis 5
Albert 4
Hermann 4
Joseph 4
Peter 4
William 4
Carl 3
Ernest 3
Heinrich 3
Isaac 3
James 3
Moses 3
Solomon 3
Asher 2
Christian 2
Conrad 2
David 2
Edwd. 2
Fredk. 2
Harold 2
Herbert 2
Mark 2
Morris 2
Philip 2
Samuel 2
Arthur 1
E.W. 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Franz 1
Fredrick 1
Frek. 1
Goodman 1
Gottlob 1
Gustave 1
Gustaw 1
Hiam 1
Isiaah 1
Israel 1
Johann 1
Julius 1
Leopold 1
Wolf 1

FAQ

Klein surname: questions and answers

How common was the Klein surname in 1881?

In 1881, 360 people were recorded with the Klein surname. That placed it at #8,596 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Klein surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,651 in 2016. That gives Klein a modern rank of #3,776.

What does the Klein surname mean?

A German and Jewish surname referring to someone of small stature or a junior member of a family.

What does the Klein map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Klein bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.