Surname Kaemmerer - Meaning and Origin
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Kaemmerer: What does the surname Kaemmerer mean?
The last name Kaemmerer is German in origin and is derived from the Middle High German words, kemmer and kerre, meaning “marsh” or “meadow”. The surname Kaemmerer evolved from a nickname for a person who lived near a marshland or meadow, as these are regions that offer a lot of fertile land needed for tilling and growing crops for the family. Alternatively, it could also be a name of habitation for people who were found at a marsh in an area of German-speaking countries.
In addition, the name Kaemmerer is believed to be derived from the old German language, Middle High German, which was spoken and written during the Middle Ages until the 17th century. Over time, this language evolved into the modern Germanic languages that are spoken today.
The Kaemmerer family likely traces its earliest roots back to the Middle Ages in the regions of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. With the advent of the internet and more sophisticated genealogical research tools, it is now easier to track the family’s origins, history and notable achievements.
Today, the name Kaemmerer is very common, especially in the western world. It is particularly popular in Germany, where it ranks in the top 250 surnames, according to 2019 data from Forebears. It is also shared by many people across the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisKaemmerer: Where does the name Kaemmerer come from?
The last name Kaemmerer (sometimes spelled Kaemmerrer or Kaemmerer) is primarily found in Germany and the United States today. In Germany, it is most common in Bavaria and the Rhineland, areas where many German settlers emigrated to in the 17th and 18th centuries. In America, Kaemmerer is most common in states such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Texas. This pattern is likely due to the migration patterns of early German immigrants, who often settled in small communities and stayed close to one another.
There is also a Native American tribe, the Ohlone, who have the last name Kaemmerer. The Ohlone are believed to be descendants of a tribe near Monterey Bay, California that the Spanish mission system forced to emigrate to California in the 1800s, where many of them adopted the Kaemmerer surname.
In addition to these locations, Kaemmerer is also present in parts of East Asia, especially in Korea and Japan, where it has become somewhat common in the last few decades due to intermarriage between German expats and locals.
The Kaemmerer name is a fairly rare one, but it still exists in those various pockets around the world.
Variations of the surname Kaemmerer
The surname Kaemmerer is of German origin and can be found also spelled as Kaemerer, Kaemerler, Kämerer, Kämmer, Kämmerling, Kaemmerling, Kamerling, Kämmerlin, and Kammerer.
Kaemmerer is a locational surname referring to someone who lived near a border or boundary. Kaemmerer is derived from the German word ‘Kammer’ meaning ‘border,’ and ‘er’ meaning ‘one associated with.’ Therefore, Kaemmerer literally translates to ‘border keeper.’ It is possible that the original bearer of the name was a guard who patrolled a certain border.
Variants of the Kaemmerer surname are found in both German and Dutch. Kaemerer is the German spelling and Kamerling is the Dutch version. Kämmer and Kämmerling are German dialect variations of Kaemmerer. Meanwhile, Kämmerlin and Kaemmerling are both German diminutives of the original spelling.
In some cases, Kaemmerer has been Americanized to Kammerer when immigrants moved to the United States. A variant of the surname can also be found in Scotland among other German immigrants; it is spelled as Kammer.
In Germany, Kaemmerer is not a popular surname. It is estimated that it is held by approximately 300 people in the country. However, it is far more prevalent in the United States where there are between 640 and 1080 people bearing the surname, and many more having a variant of the name.
Overall, the name Kaemmerer is derived from the German word ‘Kammer’ meaning ‘border’. It is associated with someone who was responsible for guarding the border. The many variants of the name can be found all around the world, with the most popular being Kaemerer, Kämmer, Kämmerling, and Kammerer.
Famous people with the name Kaemmerer
- Richard Kaemmerer: an American automotive executive, most famous for acting as Vice President of New Product Development at Chrysler.
- Sebastian Kaemmerer: a German contemporary artist, whose works often focus on cultural elements such as globalization and 21st-century technology.
- April Kaemmerer: an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
- Chaim Kaemmerer: an Israeli soldier in the IDF who was awarded a Medal of Distinguished Service for his actions in the Second Lebanon War.
- David Kaemmerer: a German physicist who was instrumental in the development of infrared imaging.
- Joseph Kaemmerer: an American writer and editor in the late 19th century.
- Emlyn Kaemmerer: an American football player who competed for the University of Pittsburgh.
- Josef Kaemmerer: a German-Canadian medical practitioner who wrote Man and His Physiological Classics, a series of books on human anatomy and physiology.
- Joseph Kaemmerer: an American architect known for his contributions to green energy production.
- Jessie Kaemmerer: a British actress who has appeared in a number of television dramas and films.