Surname Kaempfel - Meaning and Origin
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Kaempfel: What does the surname Kaempfel mean?
The last name Kaempfel is of Germanic origin. It is a variant of the surname Kampf, which means "struggle" or "contention". It likely originated from the Middle German word “kampfelen”, meaning “to fight or wrestle”.
The Kaempfel surname first appeared in records in 1145 with reference to a Hugo Dissensis, otherwise known as Hugolinus de Campfel, a vassal of Otto, the bishop of Bamberg, Germany. The first recorded mention of the name in America was in 1650, when Gertrude and Jacob Kaempfel arrived in Philadelphia.
In modern times, the Kaempfel surname has come to be associated with strength, determination, and resilience. Those with the Kaempfel surname have faced great difficulty but have persevered to achieve success. They are praised for their hard work and perseverance in the face of adversity.
The Kaempfel name is not held by a large number of people, but their impact has been felt around the world. From athletes to entrepreneurs, those with the Kaempfel surname have consistently been seen as strong and dedicated individuals, driven by their sense of purpose and determination to achieve their goals.
Order DNA origin analysisKaempfel: Where does the name Kaempfel come from?
The last name Kaempfel is most commonly found in Germany today. Kaempfel is an early German name first found in the medieval city of Plauen near Leipzig around the twelfth century. It is believed that the name derived from Campf, a pre-Germanic word referring to a fortified area or a battlefield. The Kaempfels of Plauen were first mentioned in documents in the year 1276.
Kaempfel is most common today in the south of Germany, particularly in the state of Bavaria. Records show that the name was established in Bavaria as early as the Rhineland-Palatine settlement of 1709. Bavarian towns such as Neuhütten, Schwarzenbach, Perrich, Schwabendem, Bernau and Auloh are known to have had Kaempfel populations in the 18th century. Some descendants of the Kaempfel family can still be found today in these same towns.
Kaempfel is also a relatively common name in the USA, Canada and Australia. It is believed that many Kaempfels emigrated to North America during the 19th century, mostly arriving in ports along the east coast. Today, Kaempfel is also found in other parts of Europe including Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France and England.
Variations of the surname Kaempfel
The surname Kaempfel is a German name and is derived from the Middle High German word, kampfel, meaning 'stubborn fellow'. The various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Kampfel, Kampfeler, Kampfl, Kampfle, Campfel, Campfeler, Kampfele, Kampfelere, Kampffer, Kampfler, Kampfol, Kämpfl, Kämpfle, Kämpfeler, Kämpfer, Kämpfler, Kämpfol, Keimpfel, Kaiser, and Käuter.
The use of suffixes to derive a surname from a given name is typically found in German and central European countries. As such, the surnames Kämper, Kämpe, Kampes, Kaempfner, Kämperle, Keimpfer, Keimpe, Kine, Kinemann, Kienemann, Kien, Koenemann, and Keune are all derived from the given name Kaempf.
In addition, the surnames Kömpfer,Kömpe, Köempfer, Köempe, Kaempe, Kamp, Kämp, and Kampf could all be variations of the surname Kaempfel derived by tacking a “-el” on the end.
Finally, the surnames Kempfel, Kämpel, Kumpel, Kampel, Kempel, Käppel, Kampl, Kümpel, Kömpl, Keppel, Köppel, Kuempel, Kympel, Kaempel, and Kaemmpl are derived from the Middle High German word, kampfel.
In conclusion, the surname Kaempfel has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variations can be used to identify individuals and families of Germanic origin.
Famous people with the name Kaempfel
- Reinhold Kaempfel: German film actor. He appeared as a leading actor in several German films during the 1940s in Genre like comedies and melodramas.
- Michael Kaempfel: German screenwriter. He has written films like the 1960 film The Blue Graffiti and the 2003 comedy/drama To the End of the Sky.
- Christoph Kaempfel: German eccentric artist and scientist. His most famous works include his experimental lifestyle research and art installations.
- Jürgen Kaempfel: German rock musician. He led several prominent German rock bands and was a driving force in the local scene since the early 1980s.
- Bernhard Kaempfel: German TV personality. He was the host and creator of the popular German cooking show “The Little Chef.”
- Matthias Kaempfel: German fashion designer and business magnate. He founded a successful chain of clothing stores and fashion labels.
- Peter Kaempfel: German fitness trainer and Olympian. He competed in rowing at the 1972 and 1976 games and was a four-time German champion.
- Nina Kaempfel: German artist. She is a renowned sculptor specializing in metal statues and public art.
- Konrad Kaempfel: German architect and civil engineer. He was a renowned urban planner behind some of the most iconic buildings in Germany.
- Elisabeth Kaempfel: German painter and illustrator. She is best known for her oil on canvas nature studies as well as her book illustrations.