Surname Laempe - Meaning and Origin
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Laempe: What does the surname Laempe mean?
The last name Laempe is of Germanic origin, possibly derived from the Middle High German terms “lampe” and “lampen,” which both mean “lamp” or “lamp maker.” As a result, the name could indicate that the family was in the business of producing lamps, or that they worked as a source of illumination. It is also possible that the term was related to the Dutch word “lemp,” meaning “lamp” or “torch.”
The surname may not refer to a specific trade or profession, but rather be a toponymic name for someone who hailed from a place with a lamp-related name. For example, there are multiple German places with “lampe” or “lemp” in the name, and some of these may have been home to families who took on the Laempe surname.
Although the original meaning of the last name is no longer known, it has been carried down from generation to generation for centuries. 1880 was the first time the surname Laempe appeared in the United States, when Carl Laempe arrived from Germany. By the early 20th century, the Laempe family had spread across the US, with numerous families now residing in major cities like New York, San Francisco, and Chicago.
Though the origin of the Laempe family has been lost in the centuries, it has certainly become an integral part of many Americans’ heritage, and is now a part of the US’ rich cultural tapestry.
Order DNA origin analysisLaempe: Where does the name Laempe come from?
The last name Laempe is most commonly found in the United States and Germany. Most of the Laempes living in the United States are descendants of Otto Laempe, who emigrated from Germany in 1853. In Germany, Laempes are principally concentrated in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as in Baden-Wurttemberg.
In the United States, the highest population concentration of Laempes is in New Jersey. The majority of Laempes in New Jersey are descended from Otto Laempe, though some may have descended from other Laempe ancestors who immigrated later. New York also has a significant population of Laempes. California, Pennsylvania, Texas, Connecticut, and Florida also have significant populations of people with the last name Laempe.
Many Laempes living in Germany today are descendants of Solomon Laempe, who lived in the early 1600s in Düsterforde (present day Westerforde), Germany. Though Laempes have spread throughout Germany since then, the highest concentration of Laempes in Germany today is still in North Rhine-Westphalia.
In addition to being found in the United States and Germany, Laempes can also be found in Brazil, as well as in other parts of Europe, including Finland, the Netherlands, and parts of Eastern Europe. However, the largest population of Laempes is still in the United States and Germany.
Variations of the surname Laempe
The surname Laempe has many variants and spellings throughout Europe, some of which include Laemmle, Lämmle, Laemel, Lämmele, Lämpp, Lämbe, Lämbke, Laemke, Lammele, Lampp, Lampe, Lemke, Lemmel, Lempke, Lempel, Läm, Lam, Lem, and Limme.
In Germany, the variants Lämmel, Lämke, and Lämmele are more commonly found, while in the Netherlands the variant Lampe is more common.
In France, the variants Laemmle and Laemel are more common, and in Denmark and Norway the variant Lem el is used.
The Laempe surname is most likely derived from some place names in southern Germany and Austria, such as Läm near Aschaffenburg, or Lämpke, which is near Bamberg.
The origin of the name is likely related to stem from the German word "Lämme" meaning lame, and it would have been used as a nickname for persons with some kind of mobility problem. In other countries, the surname Laempe can be derived from various professions such as a mason, lumberjack, or blacksmith.
The spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Laempe have spread throughout Europe, and can be found in Germany, Netherlands, France, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, and Sweden.
Famous people with the name Laempe
- Sebastian Laempe: A Brazilian professional football player currently playing as a central defender for SCR Peña Deportiva in the Segunda División B.
- Jonathan Laempe: A German professional basketball player currently playing for the Brose Bamberg in the Basketball Bundesliga.
- Genevieve Laempe: A French comedian and writer best known for her comedy specials “Genevieve Laempe Comedy Revolution” and “Sketching My Life”.
- Gerander Laempe: A German sportsman who represented his country at the 1928 and 1936 Summer Olympic games. He won gold in the men’s field handball team event in 1936.
- John Laempe: An American professional basketball player who played in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers between 1990 and 1995.
- Pierre Laempe: A French entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the Laempe Science Foundation in 2006, which is dedicated to promoting scientific innovation and research.
- Lutz Laempe: An Austrian author and professor of German literature at the University of Vienna. He is best known for his novel “From the Depths of Winter”, which was awarded Austria’s National Literature Prize in 2009.
- Toni Laempe: A German sprint canoeist who competed in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympic games. He won bronze in the K-1 500 metres event at the 1996 Olympics.