Surname Kempken - Meaning and Origin
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Kempken: What does the surname Kempken mean?
The last name Kempken is of German origin, and is derived from the Old German terms kempf meaning 'combat or battle' and ken, meaning 'son'. Its earliest recorded use is in the 13th century when a German family bearing the name Kempken migrated into what is now Belgium. It is believed the name was given to them to indicate their ancestry as warriors, since most people living in the same area at the time were farmers.
Kempken families were spread throughout modern Germany, Belgium, France, Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland in the late Middle Ages. During the industrial revolution of the 19th century, there was a large wave of Kempken family members who emigrated to the United States.
The Kempken surname is relatively rare, but thosefamily members who bear it continue to hold the legacy of their ancestors in pride. It stands for a strong and courageous spirit, and those who bear the Kempken surname seek to pass on that legacy to their future generations.
Order DNA origin analysisKempken: Where does the name Kempken come from?
The Kempken surname is most common in Germany today, with the majority of bearers living in the western parts of the country. According to genealogical records, the surname originated from the Low German ‘kempken’, a pet form of the name Joachim; one of the original bearers was referred to as Kempke in the 16th century.
The Kempken surname is prominent in North Rhine-Westphalia, a German state along the Rhine River, where there are believed to be around 980 bearers of the name. This region had a heavy influx of immigrants from the Holy Roman Empire in the late Middle Ages and today, many Kempken descendants are found in the area.
In addition to Germany, the Kempken surname can also be found in other European countries, such as the Netherlands and Belgium. It is thought that many descendants of the original German immigrants may have moved across Europe throughout the centuries, hence the surname is found in other countries.
Finally, the Kempken surname has spread to other parts of the world too, including the US and Canada. Records show that the Kempken family set sail for the US from Germany in the 19th century, and other branches of the family have moved to Canada and elsewhere since then. Today, Kempkensen can be found all across the globe.
Variations of the surname Kempken
Kempken is a surname with several variants, spellings, and alternative surnames. Kempken is generally a German surname from the area known as Kleve, or 'Kleve Land', which makes up parts of Germany and the Netherlands.
The primary spelling of the Kempken surname is Kempken, with alternatives including Kempke, Kempky, Kemptke, Kemptgen, Kemptge, Kampken, Kampke, Kampk, Kempka, Kempker, Kemptka and Kemptker. Additionally, there are alternate surnames of the same origin, including Kamp, Kempf, Kamps, Kampe, Kempers, Kempken, Kempker, Kemps, Kempkes, Kempter, and Kampmann.
In Dutch variants, the Kempken surname can also be spelled Kempke, Kempen, Kempers, Kempten, Kemptgen, or Kemptge. Other Dutch surnames of the same origin include Kemper, Kampen, Kemp, Kempman, Kempers, Kampen, Kamps, Kamp, Keppen, Keppenen, Kampen, Kempt, Kappen and Kappes, and Kamper.
In addition to the German/Dutch variants, Kempken can also be spelled Kempkin in English. Other English surnames of similar origin include Kemplin, Kemp, Kempen, Kempster, Kempney, Kempkins, Kempfer, and Kempthorne.
Regardless of the spelling, all of these surnames are of German origin and all come from the same root word, 'Kampt'. The Kempken surname was historically related to the occupation of 'Kamptmeeser', a term for a field worker or overseer.
Famous people with the name Kempken
- Julia Kempken: German fashion model
- Arnold Kempken: German artistic gymnast 3.Henriette Kempken: Dutch food scientist and author
- John Kempken: American banjo player and composer
- Annalena Kempken: German rower
- Sarel Kempken: Brazilian footballer
- Frank Kempken: German physical chemist
- Erich Kempken: German former professional footballer
- Gonny van der Maten-Kempken: Dutch historian and sociologist
- Jennifer Kempken: German field hockey player
- Henning Kempken: German politician
- Adalbert Kempken: German politician
- Astrid Kempken: German former diver
- Gerd Kempken: German rower
- Pascal Kempken: German handball player
- Mario Kempken: Brazilian sprint canoer
- Dilsad Gökçen Kempken: Turkish theater actress