Surname Pferdekemper - Meaning and Origin
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Pferdekemper: What does the surname Pferdekemper mean?
The last name Pferdekemper is of German origin and dates back to the early 13th century. The literal meaning of the name is "horse master", derived from two Middle High German words - "pferd" meaning horse and "kemper" meaning keeper, manager or supervisor.
The name likely originated in the Middle Ages as an occupational name for someone who managed horses, such as a stable master responsible for the care, feeding and training of horses, or a horse breeder. This may have also been an honorary title granted to someone with distinguished horsemanship skills.
The spelling of the name is thought to have evolved over time as a result of dialectal differences. In some regions, the suffix “er” might replace “kemper”; in others, the “f” might be replaced by a “ph” or “v”; and the “d” might become a “t.” Therefore, there are many variations, such as Pferdekämper, Pfärdekämper or Pverdekemper.
The Pferdekempers were prominent within Germany, with many families living throughout the country and holding influential positions. Today, the name can still be found in Germany and other countries where German immigrants settled, including the United States, Canada, Australia and South America.
Order DNA origin analysisPferdekemper: Where does the name Pferdekemper come from?
The last name 'Pferdekemper' is most commonly found in the German speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It also appears sporadically in German speaking communities across Europe and in the Americas amongst the descendants of German-speaking immigrants. It is uncertain how the surname originated, though likely it was in reference to one whose profession was as a groomer of horses.
In Germany, the surname is often found in North Rhine-Westphalia, making up the majority of the Pferdekemper population in Germany. It is also found in the north in cities such as Hamburg and Köln, as well as in the southern states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. As of a more recent census, estimates suggested around 1400 people having the last name in Germany.
In Switzerland, Pferdekemper is most commonly found in the German-speaking parts Zurich, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, and Aargau. For other countries, including Austria, there have been variable records suggesting that the surname may be found in small pockets of provinces across the nation.
Further afield, Pferdekemper is also found amongst German-speaking American immigrants and their descendants. Cities which may have people with the last name include locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The majority have likely descended from those who migrated to the United States between the 16th and 19th century.
Overall, the surname Pferdekemper is most commonly found in the German-speaking word, with several pockets within states and towns within Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It has also spread with German-speaking immigrants and their descendants to elsewhere across Europe and the Americas.
Variations of the surname Pferdekemper
The surname Pferdekemper is also sometimes spelled Pfordekemper, Ferdekemper, Pfordeckemper, and Pforkemper. All of these variations can be traced back to a common origin. In the Middle Ages, Pferdekemper was primarily a name used to describe a person who kept and cared for horses. This was the main occupation of people living in the region of the German Lower Rhine during this period.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the spelling changed slightly to Ferdekemper, and then again to Pfordekemper. At this time, families were beginning to adopt family names, and people with the same surname began to appear in records.
Today, Pferdekemper is used as a surname throughout Germany and all of its former colonies, including the United States, Brazil, and Chile. Variations on the spelling are still common, with some Americans opting to spell the name as Pfordeckemper or Pforkemper instead.
In Scandinavia, Pferdekemper is found as Vandemper, which is the result of Dutch and Germanic settlers sometime in the 19th century. This is a relatively new variant, and is currently only found in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries.
Finally, in Austria, the name could be found as Bardemper. This ceased to be in common usage as families changed their names to "modernize", resulting in even more variations and spellings of the original name, Pferdekemper.
Famous people with the name Pferdekemper
- Joseph Pferdekemper (1896-1995), German politician
- Marie Pferdekemper (born 1964), German Olympic sprinter
- Hermann Pferdekemper (1916-1985), German athlete
- Johannes Pferdekemper (1905-1947), German author
- Erik Pferdekemper (born 1956), German actor
- Christian Pferdekemper (1921-1994), German soldier
- Claudia Pferdekemper (born 1957), German Olympic shooter
- Werner Pferdekemper (1923-1999), German photographer
- Karin Pferdekemper (born 1964), German Olympic rower
- Arno Pferdekemper (born 1890), German chemist