klinger

Klinger is a surname of German origin that appears in German-speaking countries and among communities around the world with German heritage. As with many German names, it has spread through immigration and can be found in North America and other regions. The name is primarily used as a family name, but it has also appeared in fiction.

Etymology and variations are not definitively fixed, but the surname is commonly linked to potential connections with the German word kling(e) or with place-based origins containing similar elements. Variants and related spellings that have occurred over time include Klinger and Klingler, among others, reflecting common shifts in spelling and pronunciation across regions and languages.

In popular culture, one of the most recognizable uses of the name is Maxwell Q. Klinger, a fictional character in the television series M*A*S*H. Portrayed by Jamie Farr, the character serves with the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War and is known for his continued schemes to avoid the draft, including a recurring cross-dressing motif that became a notable element of the show.

Beyond fiction, the surname is carried by real individuals across various professions, though no single non-fictional figure dominates its contemporary recognition. The name Klinger, in its various spellings, remains a relatively uncommon but established example of Germanic surname heritage. Related names such as Kling, Klinger, and Klingler appear in broader genealogical and onomastic contexts.