Kleinsasser is a fairly common family name among the Hutterian Brethren. Its progenitor was Johannes Kleinsasser (d. 1779 at Vyshenka, Russia) of Aemlach, Carinthia, Austria. He was a leader of the group of Lutherans expelled from Carinthia and taken to Transylvania by Maria Theresa when they refused to return to the Catholic Church. In 1755 the group went to Alwinc, where a number, including Kleinsasser, joined the Hutterian Brethren. He was baptized and appointed as leader on probation in 1762 (Vorsteher in der Versuchung) and ordained in 1763. From Europe the name was transplanted originally to South Dakota, Montana, Manitoba, and Alberta.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 201. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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