Surname Kampen - Meaning and Origin
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Kampen: What does the surname Kampen mean?
The last name Kampen is a Dutch, German and Scandinavian name derived from the Dutch city of Kampen, which means "enclosure" or "village." The name originated from the town of Kampen, located in the province of Overijssel in the Netherlands, and is also found in Germany and some Scandinavian countries. The name Kampen is a locational name, which indicates that it was used to describe someone who originated from the town of Kampen.
Kampen families can be traced back to the 12th century, when the town was founded. The family name spread throughout Europe, mostly through trade or emigration. In some cases, the families adopted the name of their new home.
Kampen is often seen as an aristocratic name, as many families held a coat of arms in the Netherlands. Some of the prominent Kampen families include seafarers, merchants, and magistrates.
Today, Kampen is a mostly common last name in the Netherland, and to a lesser extent in Germany, Scandinavia, and the United States. It can also be used as a given name, unisex and among immigrants. Generally, the name is associated with being independent, confident, and proud with a strong work ethic.
Order DNA origin analysisKampen: Where does the name Kampen come from?
The last name Kampen is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Germany. It first became popular throughout Europe in the late 19th century, when it reached the highest population of Kampens within the Netherlands. Since then, the name has spread to other countries, including the United States and Canada.
In the Netherlands, Kampen remains rather popular. More than 15,000 people carry the name in the country, with the highest concentrations residing in the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel. A much smaller population of Kampens can be found in the far northern Netherlands, particularly in Friesland and Groningen.
In Germany, Kampen is also quite common, with roughly 8,000 people bearing the name. The majority of these can be found in the northern states of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony, as well as the eastern state of Brandenburg.
Outside of Europe, there is a small but growing population of Kampens in the United States and Canada. Most of these originate from German and Dutch immigrants of the 19th and 20th century, and today, hundreds of Kampens can be found in both countries.
Overall, Kampen is most popular in the Netherlands and Germany, though there are increasing numbers of the name in the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Kampen
The surname Kampen is believed to have originated in the Netherlands. The spelling as such is believed to be of Dutch origin, though variations may exist in some other languages.
Variants of the surname could include Kamper, Caspers, Kammers, and Kompier. Spellings of the surname may also include Kemp, Kamps, Kampmann, and Camps.
The surname Kampen is believed to have been derived from the medieval Dutch nickname Kamp, which was based off the Dutch word for “field”. It thus indicates either a person who resided near a field or was employed in tending the field.
Surnames derived from Kampen have largely spread across both European and American countries over the centuries. Examples of surnames with the same origin as Kampen include Kamphaus, Kempken, and Kampenroth.
As both variances and nicknames of the surname exist, it can be quite confusing trying to locate a person with the surname Kampen. To help identify more possible variants with the same origin, researching multiple records could be beneficial.
Famous people with the name Kampen
- Julian Kampen: An American singer and songwriter known for their alternative rock music.
- Wilhelm Kampen: A German mathematician known for his work on set theory and algebraic topology.
- Christian Kampen: An American investor who has financed many entrepreneurial projects.
- Mike Kampen: An American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Sacramento Kings.
- Rick Kampen: An American film and television producer who has worked on many popular shows such as The Simpsons and South Park.
- Minder Kampen: A Dutch artist and sculptor known for his abstract works.
- Helga Kampen: A German actress who has appeared in several television and movie roles.
- Sven Kampen: A Dutch professor of law at Utrecht University and legal commentator.
- Dirk Kampen: An American computer scientist and professor of computing at the University of Denver.
- Paul Kampen: A Dutch author of several books about the history of the Low Countries.