Surname Kämpke - Meaning and Origin
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Kämpke: What does the surname Kämpke mean?
The surname Kämpke is a German last name that is believed to have originated from the northern region of Germany in an area near the boundary with Denmark. It is a patronymic surname, which means it was derived from the first name of the father or ancestor of the individual bearing it.
The surname Kämpke is derived from the German term “kampen”, which is an Old German word for a member of the nobility or someone of high rank. Therefore, the literal translation of the surname Kämpke would be “the descendant of a noble person.”
Kämpke is a popular surname found mostly among Northern Germans, suggesting a strong presence of the family in the area for many generations. It is estimated that about 11,000 individuals with the surname Kämpke are living in the northern regions of Germany.
Kämpke is also prevalent in countries with German-speaking populations, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The surname Kämpke has been adopted into English as the Kempton, which is an Anglicization of the original German name with approximately 3,500 people carrying it in the United States.
In conclusion, the surname Kämpke is a German last name that was derived from the Old German word “kampen”, indicating the bearer was of a noble or high rank. The surname is primarily found in northern Germany, as well as in countries with German-speaking populations. The surname has also been Anglicized to Kempton in the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisKämpke: Where does the name Kämpke come from?
The last name Kämpke is commonly found in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It's also found in the Czech Republic and Poland. The name has roots in Germany, and is likely derived from the word "kampf" which means "battle," or "skirmish."
The surname is seen most prevalently in Saxony, a federal state in Germany, where it was first discovered in records as early as the 16th century. Since then, the surname has spread throughout Europe and beyond. The name is often spelt as Kempe in English-language countries, and is seen in the United States as the variant Kempt.
Kämpke is a fairly common surname in Germany. In the last 30 years, Germany has recorded more than 17,000 records featuring the name. As of 2020, there were over 8,000 individuals with the last name Kämpke living in Germany; more than 2,100 lived in Saxony, with the majority concentrated in the states of North-Rhine Westphalia, Bavaria, and Berlin.
The surname is also common in Austria and Switzerland, particularly among German-speaking populations and immigrant communities. Austria recorded more than 2,000 occurrences of the name in 2020, and in Switzerland, over 1,400 people had the last name Kämpke.
Though the surname has declined in usage in its native country of Germany, it can still be found in many countries throughout the world today.
Variations of the surname Kämpke
The surname Kämpke has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Kämpke is derived from a German occupational name, referring to blacksmiths or armourers.
Commonly occurring variants and spellings include Kämpf, Kämpfe, Kämpffer, Kämpfing, Kämpfle, Kämpfel, Kampke, Kampf, Kampffer, Kampfle, Kampfel, and Kämpe. Less common variants include Kämplings, Kampfl, Kampflen, Kämplingen,Kampling, Kamplen, Kamplingen, and Kampelingen.
Variant surname forms for Kämpke include Kamphausen, Kamphold, Kamphof, Kamphaus, Kampholdt, Kampe, and Kamper. Spelling variants of these surnames include Kempf, Kempfe, Kempffer, Kempfing, Kempfle, Kempfel, Kemphausen, Kemphold, Kempfhof, Kempfhaus, Kempholdt, Kampe, and Kamper.
The suffix "-ke" is a common diminutive found in many German surnames. It can be used to denote the small or young version of a job, such as Kämpeke for "little blacksmith." While it is often found in surnames, an individual who bears the suffix may also take the name Kämper as their surname.
The Kämpke surname is often affiliated with the Jewish faith, however, this is more likely due to the surname having been acquired by Jews rather than referring to the actual origin of the surname.
Famous people with the name Kämpke
- Günther Kämpke: a German football goalkeeper
- Xander Kämpke: a Dutch artist and painter
- Johannes Kämpke: a German swimmer and five-time European champion
- Lars Kämpke: a German illustrator specializing in surreal, macabre art
- Keith Kämpke: an American music producer/songwriter
- Brigitte Kämpke: a German rock and jazz musician
- Nicholas Kämpke: an American biochemist
- Bruce Kämpke: an Australian professional skateboarder
- Oliver Kämpke: a German crossover cellist
- Matthias Kämpke: a German independent game developer