Surname Kaemmer - Meaning and Origin
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Kaemmer: What does the surname Kaemmer mean?
The last name Kaemmer originated in Germany and can be traced back to the pre 7th century. It is composed of two elements, the first being “kam”, meaning comb or comb maker, and the second being “er”, meaning an inhabitant or freeman. This indicates that the name Kaemmer originally referred to someone who was a comb maker who lived in a town or village.
Kaemmer is an occupational surname commonly found in the areas of Germany such as Nordheide, Hesse and Holstein as well as in various parts of Canada, the United States, England, and other parts of Europe. In some cases, the name Kaemmer has also been passed down from generation to generation to create a sense of family lineage.
The coat of arms for Kaemmer is described by various genealogical sources as a golden field with a black sable with a comb and two pairs of scissors or knives crossed in saltire in the crest. This is a clear reference to the original occupational meaning of the name and serves as a reminder of those in the family who were comb makers.
Overall, Kaemmer is an old and established name with an interesting history referencing its titular occupational roots. Today, the surname can be found around the world, with those who bear the name now spanning multiple cultures and continents.
Order DNA origin analysisKaemmer: Where does the name Kaemmer come from?
The Kaemmer surname has its earliest origins in Germany. This surname is most commonly found in Germany and in some countries of Central and Eastern Europe that were formerly part of the German-speaking world such as Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. The Kaemmer last name is also found in relatively smaller numbers in the US, particularly in the Midwest and parts of the South, with the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, and Texas reporting the most Kaemmer households.
The Kaemmer surname is most closely associated with the German-speaking world, specifically Germany and Central Europe. It is likely derived from the Middle High German word “kammer”, which means “room” or “chamber”, and is an occupational name for an official in the households of German royalty or a room attendant. It is also a location-based surname in some cases, referring to someone from a place called Kammer.
It is not entirely clear when the Kaemmer surname first emerged and how many branches of the Kaemmer family tree still exist today. However, it is a surname that is still fairly common in modern Germany and Central Europe. In Germany, particularly in the state of Brandenburg in the northeast, the Kaemmer surname is still widely found.
Variations of the surname Kaemmer
Kaemmer is the German surname derived from the German word Kämmer, meaning “commerce” or “trade” (from Middle High German). It is most common in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Variations and spellings of the surname include Kemmer, Kaemer, Kaemerer, Kaemmerer, Kaemmerle, Kammer, Kämmer, Kämerer, Kämmerer, and Kämmerle.
The surname Kaemmer is found most prevalently in Germany, but can also be found in other parts of the world, including the United States. To make things more confusing, Kaemmer is sometimes spelled with two dashes ( Kämm--er). Some of its variants can be quite rare, especially in the US, such as Kaemmerer and Kämmerle.
At times, different spellings of the surname may have its origins in different countries. For example, Kaemer is derived from Switzerland, while Kemmer is derived from France and Kaemmerle stems from East Europe.
Migrants from other countries, such as the UK, also carried the Kaemmer surname. For example, the 1881 UK census record lists one individual with the surname Kaemmer, who was born in Germany but has been residing in Wales.
The variations and spelling of Kaemmer might also be traced back to a religious-based rather than geographic-based origin. For example, Kemmer is a common Jewish surname noted in early Jewish genealogy records.
No matter which variant or spelling, the Kaemmer surname is rooted in a shared sense of history, culture, and a common home country.
Famous people with the name Kaemmer
- Werner Kaemmer: a German politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament (1979-1984).
- Anne Kaemmer: an American costume designer and costume historian working in theater, film, and television.
- Monica Kaemmerle: an Austrian disabled skier and Paralympic gold medalist.
- Johann Jakob Kaemmer: a German Catholic theologian and canon lawyer, who served in the archdiocese of Mainz.
- Jan Kaemmer: a German contemporary painter known for his portraits, landscapes, and still-life paintings.
- Rudolf Kaemmer: a German naturalist and botanist, best known for his work on conifers and related species.
- Heinz Kaemmer: an Austrian geologist who conducted research in the area of sedimentology.
- Richard Kaemmer: an American actor who is known for roles in films such as The Towering Inferno and The Prodigal Daughter.
- Johann Christoph Kaemmer: a German theologian and religious leader of the Lutheran Church.
- Henning Kaemmer: a German computer scientist and professor of computer science at the University of Paderborn.