Surname Lehmkemper - Meaning and Origin
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Lehmkemper: What does the surname Lehmkemper mean?
The last name Lehmkemper is a German surname with roots in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle High German words “lohm” meaning “loam”, and “kemper” meaning tradesman or merchant. Taken together, Lehmkemper can be roughly translated to “merchant of loam”, and would have likely referred to a person in the medieval times who traded in the soil or clay called loam.
The Lehmkemper family is believed to have originally been from the area now known as Saxony-Anhalt, Germany and records of the last name going as far back as 1223 have been found in records from the area. This would make Lehmkemper one of the oldest family names in Germany and likely in all of Europe.
Lehmkemper is not a commonly found last name, but those who do bear it still carry the proud legacy of their ancestors and their merchant roots in loam. As we move forward into the future, the memory of these merchants still lives on through the Lehmkemper name.
Order DNA origin analysisLehmkemper: Where does the name Lehmkemper come from?
The last name Lehmkemper is most commonly found in Northwestern Germany today. It is believed to have originated in the region and is still heavily concentrated there. Areas like Bielefeld, Osnabrück, and Münster are particularly noted for their high numbers of Lehmkemper households. Telegraphically speaking, the last name is most represented in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony.
Apart from Germany, Lehmkemper families can also be found in smaller numbers in the United States, Canada, and some other countries in Europe. The U.S. has the most significant Lehmkemper population. Some states have higher concentrations than others, such as Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. It is also thought that some Lehmkempers have immigrated from Germany to New Zealand and Australia.
Lehmkemper families in the U.S. can trace their lineage back to one of the several storms that occurred in Northwestern Germany in the 19th century. During this period, many of the region's people took the significant step of emigrating to the United States. While many came from other places in Europe, Lehmkemper families were especially well-represented among those who relocated from Germany. As a result, their name is today especially common in the US and Germany.
Variations of the surname Lehmkemper
Lehmkemper is a German surname derived from either Lehmkemper, Lehmkamp, and Lehmkamp. It is also commonly spelled as Lemkemper, Lemkamp, and Lemkampe. Variations of the name include Lemköpfer, Löhmkemper, Löhmkamp, and Löhkamp.
The origin of the surname Lehmkemper can be traced back to the migrant ancestors who arrived first in Germany during the Middle Ages from Western or Central Europe. The surname is derived from the German word "Lehm" which means "clay". This could possibly refer to a person who made their living as a potter.
The suffix "-kemper" and "-kamp" both mean a farming area or field surrounded by a wall made of clay. It is likely, then, that the original bearer of the surname was a farmer who worked clay-rich fields.
Alternate spellings and surnames of the same origin as Lehmkemper include Lehmkämper, Lehmkemper, Lehmkemper, Lemkampe, Lemkemper, Lemkemper, Löhmkamp, Löhkamp, and Löhmkemper.
It is possible that the original holders of the Kohlhage and Anderst surnames were related to the Lehmkemper family since they all have the same origin. The surnames, Melke, Schleke, Leckie, Leckemper, and Leckmeper are also related as they share the same root words, "leaves," "leaks," and "leaks."
Lehmkemper is a common surname found in Germany today. It is most commonly used in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony.
Famous people with the name Lehmkemper
- Winfried Lehmkemper: German athlete and Olympic medalist who won gold in the 400m hurdles in 1976
- Felix Lehmkemper: German inventor who built the first motorized wagon in 1876
- Michael Lehmkemper: American actor, known for his roles in movies like Zodiac and The Big Lebowski
- Wilhelm Lehmkemper: German scientist and educator, founder of one of the first elementary schools in Germany
- Carly Lehmkemper: Australian actress, best known for her roles in shows like A Country Practice and The Knick
- Dennis Lehmkemper: Former NFL defensive tackle, played eight seasons for the Cleveland Browns
- Roger Lehmkemper: German artist best known for his landscape paintings
- Simon Lehmkemper: German biologist and conservationist, serves as the Director of Conservation for the World Wildlife Fund Europe
- Jens Lehmkemper: German baritone opera singer
- Jan Lehmkemper: Dutch physicist, renowned for his research into black holes
- Heinrich Lehmkemper: German industrialist and steel manufacturer in the 19th century
- Ralph Lehmkemper: German jazz musician and composer, active in the 1950s
- Jannie Lehmkemper: Dutch fashion designer, known for her haute couture collections
- Benedict Lehmkemper: American photographer, specializes in celebrity and sports photography
- Klaus Lehmkemper: German artist best known for his abstract expressionist paintings