Surname Kamnitz - Meaning and Origin

Kamnitz: What does the surname Kamnitz mean?

Kamnitz is a German surname of Slavic origin, derived from the name Kamno, a term for the local hill or hillside. The use of the name Kamnitz as a surname likely dates back to the Middle Ages, when German-speaking settlers from the Bavarian Forest and the Rhineland settled in the Slavonic communities of the Eastern Alps.

The name Kamnitz is widespread in the Central Uplands of Europe, particularly in Austria, where it is the sixth most commonly found surname. It is also relatively common in Bavaria, where it is the twenty-fourth most common surname. Outside of Germany and Austria, the name is notably found in Switzerland, Poland and the Czech Republic.

In terms of the etymology of the name, Kamnitz is believed to be derived from the Old High German word "kamm", meaning "cleared area of ground". It is thought that the use of "kamnitz" as a surname is a reference to someone who lived in or owned the local hill or hillside.

Overall, as a name, Kamnitz is an uncommon but not rare name, found throughout Central Uplands of Europe, with a likely a German-Slavic origin. Even though its etymology is unknown for certain, people with this surname are likely related to those who lived in or owned the local hill or hillside.

Kamnitz: Where does the name Kamnitz come from?

The surname Kamnitz is most commonly found today in Northeastern United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. The earliest known record of the name dates back to 1677, when Andreas Kamnitz immigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania. From there, the name spread throughout the Eastern seaboard. The name has also cropped up in other parts of the United States, including Texas, Colorado, Kansas, and California.

In Pennsylvania, it is one of the top 90 surnames according to the US census records. It is most commonly associated with the cities of Philadelphia, Erie, Reading, and Allentown. Pennsylvania is also notable for having the highest concentration of Kamnitz families in the entire United States, with the majority of them being located along the northeast corner of the state.

The name also appears to be popular throughout Europe. In Germany, Sweden, and Finland, records indicate that the name is especially prominent. In Hungary, the name appears frequently in given names and surnames, while in Poland it is more commonly found in surnames.

The surname is also popular in other parts of the world. In South Africa, it is listed as being a common Afrikaans surname. In Israel, records show that the name is fairly common in both Hebrew and German forms.

Variations of the surname Kamnitz

The surname Kamnitz (with the spelling Kämnitz or Kaemnitz) is of German-Jewish origin, derived from the Old German words "Kam" for "bend" or "curve," and "nitz" for "people." It is believed to have been derived from the name of a village or town with a curved topography. This surname is prevalent in Poland, and is found in some other countries as well, such as Austria, USA, Canada, and Australia.

Variants of Kamnitz include Kaemmritz, Kaemmeritzer, Kämberitzer, Kämmritz, Kämmrtz, Kämmeritz, Kaemmritz, Kämmeritez, Kämmeretz, Kämmereitez, Kaemiritz, Kaemmerts, Kaemmeritz, Kaemmertes, Käimmeritz, and Kaemmreitz.

Spelling variants of Kamnitz include Kämnitz, Kamniz, Kachnitz, Kameritz, Kämeritz, Kamritz, Kampritz, Kämritz, Kamniz, Kemmeritz, Kemmeteritz, Kemnitz, and Kamrits.

Surnames derived from the same origin include Kaemmerlein, Kaemmlein, Kämmlein, Kamerlinder, Kämerlinder, Kämmelino, and Kamrinder.

Famous people with the name Kamnitz

• Peter Kamnitz: German field hockey player who represented the West German national team at the 1989 European Nations Cup in Switzerland.
• Franz Kamnitz: Austrian businessman and industrialist, best known for founding the mining and smelting company G. Kamnitz GmbH & Co. KG in 1888.
• Ignatz Kamnitz: German-Italian sculptor best known for his works in Neo-Gothic and neo-romantic style.
• Rudolf Kamnitz: German alpine skier who represented West Germany in several major international ski events including the 1972 and 1976 Winter Olympics.
• Andreas Kamnitz: German alpine skier who was the flag bearer for Germany at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville.
• Karen Kamnitz: American actress, screenwriter, film producer and director.
• Yvonne Kamnitz: German mathematician and aerospace engineer who was the first female employee of the European Space Agency (ESA).
• Britta Kamnitz: German figure skater who competed for East Germany at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
• Cherie Kamnitz: American business executive who served as the CEO of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
• Karin Kamnitz: Austrian-American cellist who performed extensively throughout Europe and the United States.

Other surnames

Kamnitzer