Surname Kottkamp - Meaning and Origin
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Kottkamp: What does the surname Kottkamp mean?
The last name Kottkamp is of German origin and is derived from the word 'kott', meaning 'cottage'. This likely refers to one's occupation of a small cottage or house in a rural village. The name may also come from the Middle Low German word 'kottbeinger', meaning 'person living in a cottage'. This term was commonly used to describe a peasant family living in a small house or cabin.
The Kottkamp family is believed to have begun inhabiting a region on the North Sea coast of Germany near the Dutch border known as East Friesland in the 12th century. Some of the earliest records of the Kottkamp family date back to this same region in the mid-14th century. During this period, the family began to splinter, forming various branches throughout Germany.
Today, the Kottkamp surname is most commonly found in the states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria. The name itself is usually associated with the region from which it originated, representing a sense of place and historical memory for people who bear it. As families move away from their ancestral homelands, the name Kottkamp carries with it a reminder of the past and connection to the land where their ancestors originated.
Order DNA origin analysisKottkamp: Where does the name Kottkamp come from?
The last name Kottkamp is most commonly found in the United States and Germany. In the US, the highest concentration of individuals bearing the last name Kottkamp is in the Midwest, specifically in the states of Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois, with large populations in Indiana and Iowa. In Germany, the highest concentration is in the North Rhine-Westphalia and Rheinland-Pfalz regions, particularly around the areas of Linnich, Niederkassel, and Koblenz.
Outside of those areas, Kottkamp is still a relatively common surname, with smaller populations found in France, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, and Denmark. It is also found in other countries in Europe, such as Romania, Lithuania, Finland, and Estonia. Overall, this surname has a strong presence in Northern Europe and has been an important name in German and Dutch cultures for centuries.
Outside of Europe, the last name Kottkamp is not found in large numbers. However, there are a few families bearing that name living in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Additionally, the name can be found in other parts of the world including Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Kottkamp
Kottkamp is a German surname that can be spelled various ways, such as Kotkamp, Cottkamp, Kochkamp, Kotcamp, Kockkamp, and Kotecamp. It derived from the Dutch given name "Kot," which was a diminutive form of Nicholas. The variations of Kottkamp are likely the result of a variety of spelling conventions in Germany and the Dutch-speaking regions of the Low Countries.
In addition to Kottkamp, the original surname is also known to have appeared as Kotcamp, Kotkampen, Kockkampen, Kochkamp, Kochkampen, Cortkamp, Cottkamp, and Cottekamp. The Dutch variant is Kotkampen or Kotecampen, with the Dutch "kam" meaning a bend in a river.
The variant spellings of the Kottkamp surname are often attributed to the variation in dialects with each region in Germany and Europe from which the name is derived. For example, in some areas, words like "Kot" became "Cot" which easily explains how the name became spelled Cottkamp.
The Kottkamp surname can also be found in various combinations with other surnames such as Kottkampen, Kockenkampen, Kochendorf, and Koffman. This suggests that the family had multiple origins in different regions of Germany, producing unique spellings for the name.
Overall, the ultimate origin of the Kottkamp surname is likely derived from the Dutch name Kot, which gave rise to multiple spelling variations around Europe and within Germany. The various spelling variations of the Kottkamp surname often provide clues to its geographic origin.
Famous people with the name Kottkamp
- Mark Kottkamp: Former United States Air Force general and the fifteenth Surgeon General of the United States Air Force.
- M. Christine Kottkamp: Former United States Ambassador to Angola and the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs at the United States Department of State.
- Brian Kottkamp: Former Lieutenant Governor of Florida, U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Gen. and current practicing attorney.
- Robert Kottkamp: Former acting Secretary of the United States Air Force and former United States Assistant Secretary of the Air Force.
- Kristofer Kottkamp: Member of the Florida House of Representatives for the 62 nd district from 2004 to 2008 with a private law practice currently.
- Megan Kottkamp: Former intern for United States Senator Marco Rubio and current graduate student.
- Russell Kottkamp: Former Lieutenant Governor of Florida and current president/CEO of Advanced Telecom Systems.
- Chris Kottkamp: Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2005 to 2008 and currently works in the financial services business.
- Rocky Kottkamp: American professional football player who most notably played with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.
- Robert C. Kottkamp: Former member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1989 to 2000, and was a vice chairman of the Florida Board of Education from 2003 to 2006.
- David Kottkamp: Former Florida State Senator, Chief Financial Officer, and current executive staff member at the Florida TaxWatch organization.
- Robert E. Kottkamp: President, The Kottkamp Foundation, Inc. and Chairman of the Kottkamp Charitable Fund, Inc.
- Paul Kottkamp: Florida State Senator from 2002 to 2010 and Secretary of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs from 2011 to 2012.
- Matthew Kottkamp: Co-founder of the Milwaukee-based Collective Investment Cooperative and former private wealth director of the Milwaukee-based MJS Investment Advisors.
- Thomas Kottkamp: Canadian composer, bass player, and songwriter, best known for producing and working on the Juno-nominated rock album, Aftermath.