Surname Erlkamp - Meaning and Origin
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Erlkamp: What does the surname Erlkamp mean?
The last name Erlkamp is of German origin and is believed to have originated from a town called Erlenkamp in North-Rhine Westphalia. It is believed that a family of that name first settled there, likely coming from Bavaria. The name has seen various spellings over the years, including Erllkamp, Erlenkamp, Ehrlenkamp and Erlenkamp.
The name is derived from the Old German word "erle" which means alder tree. This indicates a likely origin in a settlement with a significant alder tree population. It is also possible that the name refers to a family that lived in an area with many alder trees, or that an ancestor engaged in a trade related to alder trees.
The Erlkamp name has spread beyond Germany and is now present in many countries around the world. In America, however, the spelling is most commonly seen as Erlenkamp due to the influence of German and Dutch settlers in the seventeenth century.
In English, Erlkamp translates to “alder meadow.” The name is a nod to the traditional German culture and provides a tangible link to a family’s past. It is a reminder of the close-knit nature of the German community and its history.
Order DNA origin analysisErlkamp: Where does the name Erlkamp come from?
The last name Erlkamp is a Dutch surname, and is still quite common in the Netherlands today. It is derived from a place where a person named Erlkamp formerly lived, and its first record of usage was in Utrecht in 1596, with the first known bearers of the name living there.
As the Netherlands was one of the earliest countries to colonize other parts of the world, Erlkamp is also found in countries with strong historical Dutch populations, such as Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and South Africa. In these countries, it continues to remain a relatively common surname.
In Canada, the most popular province for Erlkamp to be found is Ontario, where it ranks 4,769 out of 88,799 surnames. Although not as dense a presence as in the Netherlands, it remains one of the more common last names, and is worn by many proud Dutch-Canadians.
In the United States, the name appears in the census, moderately spread out across the country, but with a highest concentration in the West. In 2012, the last name was ranked 19,867 out of 88,799, showing a steady increase in population since its first recorded use.
Today, the last name Erlkamp is common in many countries with strong Dutch ties, and worn proudly by those who carry it. Its use by those of other nationalities is likely to gradually increase, ensuring its legacy as an international name.
Variations of the surname Erlkamp
The surname Erlkamp has several variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin, each of which is derived from the same origin meaning.
One variant spelling is Erlkam, which is a Dutch surname. It originates from the personal name Erl, which is derived from the Germanic elements “erl” meaning “nobleman” and “kam” meaning “bend”. This surname can also be found spelled as Erlkamm, Erlkampt, and Erlkampf.
In German, Erlkamp is also spelled as Erlenkamp and Erlenkamper. There is also a Scandinavian version of the surname, Erlenkampen, which comes from the Old Norse personal name Erlendr, which means “the brave”.
In Polish, Erlkamp is spelled Erlkam and originates from the ancient Polish name Erlekham, which means “beautiful or strong-willed fighter”.
There are also a few surnames with similar variations, such as Erlekamp, Erlinskamp, Erlenskamp, Erlenschmidt and Erlkens.
The versions of the surname Erlkamp found in the Netherlands, Germany and Poland vary between spelling, pronunciation and meaning, but all are ultimately derived from the same root word.
Famous people with the name Erlkamp
- Tom Erlkamp, Dutch football player
- Lauren Erlkamp, American mixed martial artist
- Peter Erlkamp, Dutch actor
- Jellert Erlkamp, Dutch actor
- Evert Petrus Erlkamp, Dutch men's artistic gymnast
- Harry Erlkamp, Dutch-American illustrator and painter
- Niels Erlkamp, Dutch film editor
- Andries Erlkamp, Dutch beach volleyball player
- Fabian Erlkamp, German football player
- Arne Erlkamp, Dutch judoka