Kline surname meaning

Kline in American records is most often an anglicized spelling of Klein, the German, Dutch, and Ashkenazi Jewish nickname from a word meaning “small” or “little.” It could mark short stature or distinguish a younger son—think Kleinhans or Kleinpeter. Cline and Klien are common sister spellings. A separate Slovenian line derives from klin, “wedge” or “wooden peg,” used for wedge-shaped land, but that stream is far less common in the US Census spelling. Nickname fits the Klein sense; confidence is high for that main route while the Slovenian alternative is noted.