Surname Cämmerer - Meaning and Origin
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Cämmerer: What does the surname Cämmerer mean?
The last name Cämmerer is of German origin and is derived from elements meaning ‘keeper’ and ‘one in charge’. It is found throughout predominantly German-speaking regions in Europe. The name refers to a specific title or profession, originally given to a person who held responsibility for the management of an estate. This position was responsible for overseeing the accounts, supplies, and servants of the estate, and often the steward would submit lists of goods and services for payment from the landowner or lord.
The surname is an example of a name taken from a profession, which was common in the Middle Ages in Europe. As families emigrated, they would often take the name of their profession with them and this name would become a surname, passing down from generation to generation. Other variants of the name may include Camar, Kammer, and Kämmerling.
The current coat of arms of the Cämmerer family was first granted to Hans Cämmerer, who was knighted by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I in 1497. The coat of arms consists of three black cows on a white background, with a hatched silver stripe along the top. This symbolizes the family’s history of farm and estate management.
Overall, the surname Cämmerer is indicative of a long family history of civil and commercial service, in particular, the management of farms and estates. Its continuation as a surname today serves as a reminder of the family’s past and of the heritage that has been passed down.
Order DNA origin analysisCämmerer: Where does the name Cämmerer come from?
The last name Cämmerer is most commonly found in Germany, where it originated from in the Middle Ages. It is one of the oldest German last names and was initially recorded in the 13th century in Bavaria. Today it is most concentrated in the eastern regions of Germany including Hesse, Bavaria and Saxony as well as in parts of Poland and Austria.
In the Middle Ages, the last name was originally associated with unremarkable groups of common people who often worked as craftsmen or labourers. The name has also been linked to various noble families who held landed properties in Bavaria, but their influence is believed to have been relatively small.
Today, Cämmerer is still primarily a German last name and its distribution closely follows the ethno-linguistic geography of German-speaking populations. It is an uncommon name however, and mostly found in areas with a dense population of German-speaking people.
The last name Cämmerer can also be found in other countries as a result of emigration. Examples include the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and some Australian states where German-speaking immigrants have settled in small groups since the 19th century.
Variations of the surname Cämmerer
The surname Cämmerer has a variety of different spellings and variants, including Kämmer, Kämmerling, Kämmermann, Kämmerer, Kamer, Kammer, Kämmerer, Cämmerer and Cämmerling.
Kamer and Kammer are the most common spellings of the surname Cämmerer found in Germany and Switzerland. The variations Kämmer and Kämmerling are found mainly in Germany. In Austria and the Czech Republic, the variants Kämmerer and Kämmermann are the most common. The surnames Cämmerer and Cämmerling can be found in both Germany and Switzerland.
The surname Cämmerer is derived from a profession found in medieval Europe. It is derived from the Middle High German Kamerier, which literally means ‘toll collector’ and later ‘chamberlain’. In medieval times, a chamberlain was the steward and treasurer of the kings court and a toll collector was responsible for collecting taxes.
All of these variations are connected to this profession and share a common origin. The surname Cämmerer can trace its roots to medieval Central Europe and is a working-class name shared by many of the same families.
Famous people with the name Cämmerer
- Paul Cämmerer: A German politician, lawyer, and law professor who served as Minister of Justice between 1921 and 1928.
- Guenter Cämmerer: A German politician affiliated with the pro-business Free Democratic Party, who served as a Member of the Bundestag from 2005 to 2009.
- Wolfgang Cämmerer: A German politician for the right-wing Christian Democratic Union party who was the Minister of Justice in 1981–1982.
- Marcus Cämmerer: A German businessman and politician who has served as Regional Minister of Finance and Economics in the Rhineland-Palatinate region since 2011.
- Ernst Cämmerer: A 19th- and 20th-century German historian, editor, and professor at the University of Munich.
- Ludwig Cämmerer: A German composer, organist, and choir director from the 19th Century.
- Wilhelm Cämmerer: A German surgeon and professor of anatomy at the University of Jena from the 19th Century.
- Carl Cämmerer: A German ophthalmologist and professor from the 19th Century and the grandfather of the famous composer and organist Ludwig Cämmerer.
- Heinrich Cämmerer: A 19th-century German librarian and academic from the University of Heidelberg.