Cline History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Cline comes from the German province known as the Rhineland. In pre-medieval times, the German people used only one name, but as the population increased, hereditary surnames became necessary for people to maintain unique identities. Cline is a nicknamesurname, a style of name based on an eke-name, or added name, that described a characteristic of its original bearer. Cline is a name for a small or short person deriving its origin from the German word “klien,” which means “small.”

Early Origins of the Cline family

The surname Cline was first found in the Rhineland, where the name came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. It later became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates and branches, some in foreign countries, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society.

Early History of the Cline family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cline research.

Cline Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Cline include Klein, Kleinn, Kleine, Kleinne, Kleyn, Kleynn, Kline, Clein, Clein, Cline, Kleiner, Klinertz and many more.

Early Notables of the Cline family (pre 1700)

Notables with the name Cline during this period were Daniel Klein (1609-1666), Lutheran pastor and scholar from Tilsit, Duchy of Prussia; and Felix Klein (1849-1925), who was an important German mathematician, founder of the institute of mathematics in Goettingen, and very influential.

Cline Ranking

In the United States, the name Cline is the 595^th most popular surname with an estimated 49,740 people with that name. [1]

 Cline migration to the United States +

Between the 17th and 20th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Europeans came to North America, and many Rhinelanders were among them. They had many various reasons for making the choice: to escape poverty and persecution, for adventure, and for the opportunity to own their own land. Ellis Island, one of the main American immigration centers, saw many settlers as they moved on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, and New York. In Canada, they found homes in Ontario, and on the great plains of the Midwestern provinces. The Cline were among of the early German families that came to North America: 

Cline Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Hendrick Cline, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 [2]
• Joh Cline, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 [2]
• Johanis Cline, aged 44, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 [2]
• Mathias Cline, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 [2]
• John Fredk Cline, aged 20, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1741 [2]

Cline Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Thomas Cline, aged 27, who landed in Missouri in 1839 [2]
• J Cline, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [2]
• Elizabeth Cline, aged 23, who landed in New York in 1854 [2]
• Margaret Cline, aged 18, who landed in New York in 1854 [2]
• James Cline, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1855 [2]

 Cline migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Cline Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Mrs. Elizabeth Cline, “Clyne” U.E. (b. 1760) born in Germany from German Flatts, USA who settled in Carleton Island, Saint Lawrence River, Ontario [New York] c. 1779; she was widowed before making the journey to Canada with her 6 children, in 1781 she remarried John Nicholas Weitzel in Kingston, Ontario he died in 1796 leaving her a widow again as such moved the family to Stormont County [3]
• Mr. George Cline U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1783 [3]
• Mr. John Cline U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1783 [3]
• Mr. Adam Cline U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 [3]

 Cline migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Cline Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Andrew Cline, (Clyne), (b. 1777), aged 53, Irish ploughman who was convicted in Westmeath, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the “Edward” on 17th October 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1832 [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Cline (post 1700) +

• Madelyn Renee Cline (b. 1997), American actress and model, known for her roles as Sarah Elizabeth Cameron on the Netflix teen drama series Outer Banks (2020-) and as Whiskey in Rian Johnson’s mystery film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
• Naomi Sue Cline (1946-2021), American politician, Republican member of the West Virginia Senate, representing the 9th district from January 22, 2016 to 2020
• Christopher Cline (1958-2019), American billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist
• Isaac Monroe Cline (1861-1955), American chief meteorologist at the Galveston, Texas office of the US Weather Bureau from 1889 to 1901
• Edward Cline (b. 1946), American novelist and essayist
• Catherine Ann Cline (1927-2005), American historian of contemporary Britain
• Patsy Cline (1932-1963), born Virginia Patterson Hensley, American country music singer, the first female solo artist inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame
• Nels Cline (b. 1956), American guitarist and composer
• Melanie Cline (b. 1975), American BMX racer
• Martin Cline (b. 1934), American geneticist