Surname Van Kamp - Meaning and Origin

Van Kamp: What does the surname Van Kamp mean?

The surname Van Kamp is of Dutch origin and translates directly to "from the field" in English. "Van" in Dutch typically means "from" or "of", essentially indicating one's place of origin or residence. "Kamp" refers to a field, camp, or a place where temporary accommodations are set up, referencing an open space in rural locations. Therefore, someone with the surname Van Kamp could be inferred to be from a family that historically lived in or near fields or open countryside. However, it's worth noting that surnames do not always reflect one's current location or status, as they are often carried down through generations, regardless of changes in family residences or professions. As with any surname, variations can exist based on regional dialects and historical shifts in language.

Van Kamp: Where does the name Van Kamp come from?

The Van Kamp surname is of Dutch origin and is most commonly found in the Netherlands today. Historically, the name originated from a small village in the central Netherlands called Kampen, which meant "fields" in Dutch. Within the Netherlands, the Van Kamp surname remains widespread though its frequency is greatest in the provinces of North-Holland and Utrecht. Outside the Netherlands, the Van Kamp surname is still found today in the Netherlands Antilles, Suriname, Belgium, Germany, France, United Kingdom, United States, and Canada.

In the United States, the surname mainly occurs in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and California. According to the US Bureau of the Census, the population shares of individuals with the Van Kamp surname in each of these states range between 0.001% and 0.003%.

In terms of historical records, the first American families with the Van Kamp surname primarily came to New York via Rotterdam in the late 17th century and later to Pennsylvania during the late 18th century. These early Van Kamps mainly settled in Dutch-influenced communities, which explains why the surname is still somewhat common in the Great Lakes region and in areas of the Midwest today. Despite this, the surname remains quite generally uncommon in the United States.

Variations of the surname Van Kamp

The surname Van Kamp is derived from the Dutch term Van Kampen, which literally translates as “from the field”. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Van Kam, Van Camp, van Camp, Van Kappa, Kamp, Kampp, and Camp.

Van Kamp is an ancient Dutch family name, first appearing in an official record dating back to 1247 AD. Since then, it has been used as a family name and also a given name. It is thought to have originated in the Low Countries and be of either Old-Dutch or Norse origins, as indicated by its prefix “van”. There are many branches of the Van Kamp family spread throughout Holland, Germany, Denmark, France, and the United States.

Variants of the surname Van Kamp include Van Kam, and Van Camp and Van Kappa. Van Kam is a Dutch variant of Van Kamp and is derived from the same root. It first appeared in an 18th century document as a given name and has since been used as a surname. It is thought to be related to, or a derivative of, the older Dutch word kamp, meaning “field”.

Van Camp is another Dutch variant of Van Kamp. Derived from the same root, Van Camp first appeared in a document from 1721. It is thought to have originally been a nickname or occupational name from someone who owned or worked a field. Van Kappa is a rare variant of Van Kamp and is thought to have derived from the Greek term Kappa, meaning “field”.

Kamp, Kampp, and Camp are also variants of Van Kamp. Kamp is a Dutch surname derived from the Dutch word kamp, meaning “field”. Kampp is a German variant of Van Kamp, likely of Dutch origin. Camp is an English variant of Van Kamp, thought to have derived from the pre-10th century term “cemp”, meaning “field”.

Famous people with the name Van Kamp

• John van Kampen: Dutch-born American cellist and conductor
• Caleb van Kampen: Canadian singer, songwriter and producer
• Noortje van Kamphof: Dutch actress
• Gae Aulenti: Italian architect and designer, known for the restoration of the Palazzo Grassi in Venice
• Willem-Alexander van Kamphof: Dutch politician and the current King of the Netherlands
• Johannes van Kamphof: Dutch cyclist, competing at the 2008 Summer Olympics
• Wouter van Kamphof: Dutch former footballer
• Phil van Kamphof: Dutch freestyle skier and slopestyle specialist
• Pieter van Kamphof: Former Dutch footballer
• Rinus van Kamphof: Dutch cyclist and motorcycling world champion

Other surnames

Van Kampen