Clinard Name Meaning and History French (Alsatian) or American form of German Kleinert 1. variant of Klein. 2. from a reduced form of the medieval personal name Kleinhart, from Middle High German klein ‘small’ + hart ‘strong’. Klein Name Meaning and History German, Dutch (also de Klein(e)) and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Middle High German, Dutch, German klein ‘small’, or Yiddish kleyn. This was a nickname for a person of small stature, but is also often found as a distinguishing name for a junior male, usually a son, in names such as Kleinhans and Kleinpeter. This name is common and widespread throughout central and eastern Europe.