Surname Großekämper - Meaning and Origin
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Großekämper: What does the surname Großekämper mean?
The last name Großekämper is of German origin, and is relatively common throughout the country. The literal meaning of the name is “big farmer”, suggesting that the original holders of this surname were landowners and, perhaps, nobles in the past.
The personal name “Groß”, which is derived from the German word meaning “large”, is an indication that the family had a rather prominent position in medieval Germany. As for the word “Kämper”, it is derived from the German verb kämpfen, which can be translated to “fight” or “battle”. This hints at a combatati ve past for the Großekämper family, but it could also be a reference to their prowess as land management and farmers.
As the etymology suggests, it is likely that the Großekämpers have been farming on German soil for centuries. The name is most prevalent in areas such as Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Thuringia and Saxony, where agriculture is still a predominant occupation. In modern times, the Großekämpers have spread across Germany, and even beyond, with many holders of the surname living in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Today, the Großekämpers typically assume occupation in both rural and urban settings. Those who live in rural areas are likely to view themselves more in terms of their farming past, while those who live in urban areas may have an appreciation for business and the sciences.
In short, the last name Großekämper is a reminder of a long-standing tradition of German agricultural heritage, and of an illustrious past populated by farmers, landowners, and fighters.
Order DNA origin analysisGroßekämper: Where does the name Großekämper come from?
The last name Großekämper is predominantly found in Germany. It is a German-language surname and has been in existence since at least the 16th century.
The name is largely concentrated in northwestern Germany, especially in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. North Rhine-Westphalia (where the city of Cologne is located) has the highest incidence of the name, followed by Lower Saxony (where the cities of Hanover, Oldenburg, and Osnabrück are located). It is also found in small numbers in other German states such as Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Rhineland-Palatinate, Sachsen, and Saxony-Anhalt.
Most people in Germany bearing the Großekämper surname appear to belong to the Catholic faith. It is also possible that many German-speakers born outside the country with the last name Großekämper belong to Catholic and Lutheran traditions as well.
In addition to Germany, there are also small numbers of people bearing the name Großekämper living in Austria, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, and the United States. These pockets of people likely originate from German immigrants who moved during the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as intermarriage between related Großekämper families in these countries.
Overall, the last name Großekämper remains most common in northwestern Germany today, though it is also scattered throughout other parts of Europe and the United States.
Variations of the surname Großekämper
The surname Großekämper can also be spelled as Großkämper or Grosskämper. It is a German surname with its roots in the rural Westphalia region. It can also be found as Kämper, Grosse Kämper, or Gross Kämper.
The origin of the surname Großekämper is a combination of two words, ‘Groß’ and ‘Kämper’. ‘Groß’ means ‘big or large’, while ‘Kämper’ was first used to refer to someone from a settlement or camp. Over time, it was also associated with someone who had the job of looking after animals.
Kämper was then combined with the prefix ‘Groß’ to mean a person of high standing or great responsibility in the related job or settlement. Thus, the surname Großekämper could have taken shape as a reference to a high status individual or heart of a settlement.
Variants and surnames of the same origin could include: Grossenhofen, Großkämper, Grossekämper, Grosskämper, Grosse, Groskamp, Grosskamper, Grosskonig, Metken, and Metzken.
The surname Großekämper is of German origin and could also be used in other parts of Europe such as Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, and Slovakia. It can also be found as Gros keen an per in the United States.
Famous people with the name Großekämper
- Hendrik Großekämper: a German professional footballer who has played for VfL Bochum, FC Ingolstadt and currently plays for 1. FC Heidenheim.
- Erich Großekämper: a German amateur footballer who played as a defender for Arminia Bielefeld in the 1970s and now coaches local adolescents.
- Günther Großekämper: a German orchestral and choral conductor, best known for his work with the Berlin State Opera and Chamber Orchestra.
- Heinz Großekämper: a German TV and film actor, who took part in several productions of the 1970s and 80s.
- Felix Großekämper: a German modern pentathlete, who has won a bronze medal at the 2009 World Championships.
- Stephan Großekämper: a German volleyball player who played as an outside hitter for SCC Berlin in Bundesligen.
- Uwe Großekämper: a German motorcycle racer, who was the winner of the 1990 AMA Formula 1 National Championship and competed in the 500cc World Championship.
- Reinhold Großekämper: a German football manager, who took charge of FC Gütersloh, SV Lippstadt 08 and VfB Gütersloh.
- Dirk Großekämper: a former professional ice hockey player, who played for the 1. Eishockey Bundesliga clubs Eintracht Dortmund, Adler Mannheim and Düsseldorfer EG.
- Wilfried Großekämper: a German cyclist, who won silver and bronze at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.