Surname Kamps - Meaning and Origin
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A Personal Sojourn into My Ancestry: The iGENEA DNA Test Review
The iGENEA DNA Test provides a fascinating journey into personal heritage, enabling connectivity to others with the same surname. This review describes my insightful discovery of the ‘Kamps’ lineage and the incredible connections formed through the experience.
O. Kamps
read moreKamps: What does the surname Kamps mean?
The last name Kamps is an occupational German surname derived from the German word ‘kampf’, which means ‘conflict’. Historically, it is believed to have been an occupational name for a soldier, perhaps even a knight, who served in some sort of conflict or battle. The earliest known recorded usage of the surname comes from a 13th-century German document, where a knight named Hainrich Kampf is mentioned.
The surname likely comes from an ancestor who had served in a battle involving the house of Schauenburg and was rewarded with land. Later generations of Kamps’ took on this name as recognition of their family heritage.
In modern times, the Kamps surname is most commonly found in Germany, America, and the Netherlands. It is believed to have been introduced to the American continent sometime during the 17th century, when large numbers of immigrants were seeking new opportunities in the New World. Due to the prevalence of the surname in America, it is possible that it was among some of the first European surnames found there.
Kamps is a very common surname, due to its German origin and the number of people who have emigrated throughout the world. It continues to carry a strong connection to its original root word, and those who bear the name are likely to remember their family history.
Order DNA origin analysisKamps: Where does the name Kamps come from?
The last name Kamps is most common in Western Europe, especially in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. However, due to immigration, the last name is also becoming increasingly common in other countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The etymology of the name Kamps is believed to come from the Germanic words “kamp” (village), and “gau” (enclosed settlement area). This suggests that it could have been used to identify people living in a certain district in proximity to one another.
In the Netherlands, Kamps is one of the most popular surnames and has been found in records dating back to the 14th century. Records from the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics indicate that, as of 2015, there are around 40,000 people in the Netherlands with the surname Kamps, which accounts for approximately 0.4 percent of the population.
In Germany, Kamps is also quite common, with around 37,000 people sharing the name. The surname is widely spread across the entire country and is found in various documents and records dated back to the 17th century.
In the United States, the last name Kamps is one of the less common of German descent. According to the U.S. census of 2000, there are only 1,774 people with the surname in the entire nation.
Overall, the last name Kamps is still primarily associated with countries in Western Europe. However, due to immigration and globalisation, it is becoming increasingly common in other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Kamps
Kamps is a German surname, derived from the Dutch and Low German word "kamp," meaning a field. It is usually spelled Kamp or Kemp, and also has variants such as Kempe, Campe, Campes, and Cammps. There is also a separate English surname, derived from Old Norse, meaning somebody living near a dried-up river bed.
Kamps is also sometimes found written as Kampe or Kampp, and a Dutch spelling is Kam. The German surnames Kampsen, Kamphoff, and Kamphaus are derived from the same root word. The German Camphausen, Campa, Campagne, and Campiani are derived from a form of the Latin word campana, meaning bell.
In the Netherlands, the surnames Kamps and Camptois are also derivatives of the Dutch word camp. The Dutch variations Kampuis, Kampse and Kamphorst are related spelling variants of the same name. There are also variants Champ and Champignie.
Kampshoff, Kamphausen, Kampes, and Kempster, are also believed to be anglicized versions of the German surname Kampsand.There are also variants known in Spain as Campe, Camps, Campol, and Kampo.
Kampes and Kemps are also found in parts of the United States. The German-American variant Kempf is also sometimes seen as an Americanized spelling of the same name.
The surname has also been found amongst Jews, who have sometimes adopted the names Kamps or Kemp when they adopted Christianity. Surnames from this origin can also be found in Germany, Austria, Hungary, France, Italy, and Belgium.
In summary, Kamps is a German surname derived from the Dutch and Low German word for field, and has numerous spelling variants. Some variants, such as Kamphausen, Kampsen, and Kempf, are found among German-American immigrants. Others, such as Campes and Campoli, are found in Spain and Italy. Jews may have adopted this surname when they converted to Christianity. Variants in the Netherlands include Kamphorst and Kampuis.
Famous people with the name Kamps
- Natalie Kamps: A German journalist and an author of multiple books about the Third Reich and the Nazi regime.
- Rudolf Kamps: A German film director who was best known for his 1984 film Red Pages.
- Markus Kamps: A former German professional footballer who played for the Hertha Zehlendorf.
- Richard Kamps: A German actor, known for his role in the 2003 film Parchim International.
- Klaus Kamps: A former German football manager and former player who managed a number of teams in Germany.
- Tim Kamps: A Dutch professional footballer who currently plays as a defender for the German Bundesliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf.
- David Kamps: A German lawyer and former president of the German Football Association.
- Susanne Kamps: A German TV presenter and cultural journalist who has hosted various shows on German television.
- Dennis Kamps: A German rapper and songwriter who rose to popularity in the late 2000s.
- Wall Kamps: A former German football player who played as a midfielder for 1. FC Kaiserslautern.