Surname Krampe - Meaning and Origin
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Krampe: What does the surname Krampe mean?
The surname Krampe is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "krampen" which means "hook." This makes sense as a surname, as it was likely first used as a nickname for someone who was known for using a hook, such as a shepherd's crook, a sickle, or a fishing rod.
Another possible origin of the name Krampe is from the Middle High German words "krampen" or "krampen" which mean "gravelly" and "craggy" respectively. It is likely that this surname was given to someone living near uneven terrain such as steep hills or rocky valleys.
Krampe is still found as a surname in Germany today. Most likely, those bearing the name are descended from the original family who first adopted the name.
Regardless of its origin, the name Krampe is an interesting and unique family name. It has a lot of historical significance and plenty of interesting possible origins to explore. Unfortunately, no one should ever assume what the origin of a surname is without doing further research.
Order DNA origin analysisKrampe: Where does the name Krampe come from?
The last name Krampe is primarily associated with Germany, as this surname indicates German heritage. Today, Krampe is a common surname throughout Germany, with the most frequent occurrences of it located in western and central regions such as the Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate areas. Furthermore, due to German immigration to other countries, the surname Krampe is now also fairly prevalent in the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Argentina, and Uruguay, among other nations.
Tracing the history of the Krampe surname to its first recorded instance in Germany in the mid-13th century, information suggests that it is thought to be a regionally popularized version of Kramp, which was a toponymic surname referring to people who have lived near or at a marshy place, a swamp, a wet meadow, or a heath (in German, “Kramp”). Today, the Kramp meaning is still in use in German and Dutch vernacular to describe a stubborn or cranky person.
Heraldic history also contributes to the Krampe surname’s history, with the first Krampe family to ever bear a coat of arms said to have done so in the fifteenth century. Depicting three gold ears of wheat on a blue background, the shield is known to have been used not only by more prominent families but by those of more ordinary rank. This suggests that the surname Krampe was not necessarily connected with the higher classes, thus making it quite common today.
Variations of the surname Krampe
The surname Krampe is a German family name originating from East Prussia. It is also spelled as Krämpe, Crampe, Kramm, Krempe, Kremm, Kreumpf, Krümpe, Kraempe, Kromp, Krumm, Krump, Krumpf and Kruempe.
Krampe is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word krampen, meaning 'crook' or 'hook'. It is likely that people bearing this surname were originally engaged in a type of craft or trade involving bent iron or other materials.
The earliest recorded mention of someone bearing the name Krampe can be dated to 1745 in the town of Demmin located in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district in northeastern Germany. Here, the local pastor registered the baptism of a Johann Krampe, the son of a local family with the name Kraempe.
By the early 1800s, other members of the Krampe family had settled in Danzig, a former German city now known as Gdansk in modern-day Poland. When the political borders changed in 1945 at the end of World War II, many of these families dispersed across Europe and elsewhere in the world.
Today, people with the surname Krampe can be found living in Germany, the United States, Austria, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Canada, and other countries. Variations of this surname are still commonly used in Germany and the surrounding regions.
Famous people with the name Krampe
- Jason Krampe: Canadian actor best known for his appearances in TV shows such as the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spin-off Angel and NCIS: New Orleans.
- Terence Krampe: German athlete who won an Olympic gold medal in javelin at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.
- Tony Krampe: American professional racecar driver known for his appearances in NASCAR Cup Series and Busch North Series.
- Gitta Krampe: German pop singer who began her career as part of the duo realized, with her sister Nicky Krampe, then breaking up to pursue a solo career.
- Andrea Krampe: German writer and actress who published novels in 2016 and 2017 and appeared in multiple German films in the 20th and 21st centuries.
- Corinna Krampe: German politician who served as Minister President of the state of Saarland between 1991 and 1994.
- Erika Krampe: Swedish author and painter known for her book “Living in the Moment” which explores the concept of living in the present moment.
- Arnold Krampe: German composer and musician who was a member of the influential electro-punk band KRAFTWERK from 1970 to 1975.
- Christian Krampe: German Producer and screenwriter who worked in the Animations Film Industry and won a Grimme Award for Best Animated Series in 2008.
- Erwin Krampe: German voice actor who has voiced characters in various anime and video games, including Kingdom Hearts and One Piece.