Surname Kamphausen - Meaning and Origin

Kamphausen: What does the surname Kamphausen mean?

Kamphausen is a German surname that originated from Lower Saxony. In German, the word "Kamp" means camp or field, which is combined with "Hausen", meaning house or settlement. There can be several theories around the meaning of the surname Kamphausen, but it is generally accepted that the name likely originated from a family who originally settled in a camp or field, which is supported by the fact that in the German language, Kamphausen literally means a house located in a camp or field. The surname might also be linked to other similar surnames, such as Kamphaus, Kamphause, or Camphausen, which have similar meanings. Other variants of the name include Kamphauser, Kampheuser, Kamphausinger and Kampenhausen.

One of the most famous bearers of the Kamphausen surname was the German composer, global music publisher, and philanthropist, Franz Xaver Gruber, who wrote "Silent Night". He changed his original name, Gruber, to Arthofer-Kamphausen, when he became a music publisher in Salzburg.

This surname is still widely used today, especially in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where descendants of the original family continue to carry the name, remain proud of their heritage, and pass it on to their next generations.

Kamphausen: Where does the name Kamphausen come from?

The Kamphausen surname is common across many European countries, including Germany, Belgium, Austria, and France. It is also found in smaller numbers in the Netherlands and Switzerland. In Germany, the name Kamphausen can still be found mainly in the states of Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia, while in France its presence is strong mainly in the Alsace and Lorraine regions.

In the United States the Kamphausen surname is most commonly found in the states of Texas, Illinois, and California. This may be due to the fact that many German immigrants to the US came from the areas in Germany where it is most common. Additionally, the Alsace region of the European mainland has a strong population of German heritage, so it stands to reason that many of those immigrants would have chosen to resettle in the US.

The name Kamphausen is also found in other countries in South and Central America, as well as North America, due to German immigrants who settled in Canada and the US over the past few centuries. Today, the name Kamphausen can be found in numerous countries, suggesting it has remained a popular surname over time.

Variations of the surname Kamphausen

Kamphausen is a German surname originating from a similar place name. Variants of the surname Kamphausen include the anglicized form Kamphaus, Kamphausen, Kamphuysen, Kamphues, Kamphowse, and Kampusen. The extended forms of the surname also include Kampehausen, Kamphorn, Kamphuesen, Kamphusen, and Kampfhausen.

In German, Kamphausen is derived from an old personal name “Kamp” and the common German suffix “hausen” which means “houses” and “homesteads”. This name is commonly found in the northwestern part of Germany such as North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony.

The oldest recorded spelling of the surname is believed to be “Kampfausen” which dated back to 1391, when a person known as Berhtold Kampfausen was living in the city of Nuremberg. Other early recordings of the surname include Adam Kamphuesen of Heinsberg in 1586, and Magnus Kamphusen in Stendal in 1586.

Kamphausen is generally the most common spelling of the surname internationally, though in some regions other spellings may be more frequent. Some examples include Kamphuysen in the Netherlands, and Kampusen in Sweden. In the United States, the spellings Kamphaus and Kamphowse appear to be the most popular variations.

The surname may also occur in various other languages such as Dutch, Swedish, and Danish. In Dutch, forms of the surname include Kamphuijsen, Kamphuijzen, Kampijsen, and Kamphuijs. In Swedish, the most common variation is Kampusen. In Danish, spellings include Kampiusen, Kamphausen, and Kampauesen.

Famous people with the name Kamphausen

• Dr. Ernst Kamphausen: Ernst Kamphausen was a doctor in Berlin before the war and was one of the leading doctors at a children's hospital during the Nazi era. After the war he was an ardent critic of the Nazi regime and devoted the rest of his life to writing about the medical atrocities of the Third Reich.
• Karl Kamphausen: Karl Kamphausen was a German physicist and professor at the University of Munich. He is known for his work in the development of the atomic bomb and his research into particle physics.
• Erhard Kamphausen: Erhard was a German architect and designer of the Karlsruhe University Hospital, a large state-of-the-art facility built in the 1950s.
• Beatrice Kamphausen: Beatrice Kamphausen was a German artist whose work explored several themes, including the relationship between nature and man and the impact of technology and industry on the environment.
• Martina Kamphausen: Martina Kamphausen is a German web and media consultant who works in the field of digital innovation. She is also a popular keynote speaker at business and technology conferences worldwide.
• Tim Kamphausen: Tim Kamphausen is an actor and director from Germany. He has appeared in a number of television shows and movies and is known for his roles in the German films Die Häschenschule and The White Color of Disaster.

Other surnames

Kamphaus