Surname Heidkemper - Meaning and Origin
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Heidkemper: What does the surname Heidkemper mean?
The surname Heidkemper is a German locational surname that originated from Heidkamp, an old German word that refers to the people or dwellings that existed along heathland or moorland areas. The Heidkemper surname can be found in German-speaking countries, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The Heidkemper surname is believed to have originated in the Rhineland and it is believed to be associated with the Middle Rhine region, which is in the far south-west of Germany.
The Heidkemper surname is derived from the German word ‘heiß’ which means ‘hot’ and ‘kamp’ which means ‘field’ or ‘plain’. The surname Heidkemper was likely an occupational name that denoted someone who lived and worked on a barren field or heathland.
In the Middle Ages heath land was mainly used for farming, and in many cases it was used to graze sheep. There is a high probability that those with the Heidkemper surname were shepherds, or, at the very least, occupied in a trade or craft related to the breeding of sheep.
The earliest recorded use of the Heidkemper surname dates back to 1451 in Germany, where Matheis Heydekenypers (Heidkemper) was the priest of the parish of Oldenkott. Over the centuries the Heidkemper surname continued to be used by various individuals living in Germany-speaking countries, and it is still in use today.
Order DNA origin analysisHeidkemper: Where does the name Heidkemper come from?
The last name Heidkemper is primarily found amongst people living in Germany today. It is a very common name in both North Rhine- Westphalia and Bavaria, and the small towns and villages along the Rhine river.
Analysis of German census records show that people with the Heidkemper surname are concentrated in parts of the country within a 100-mile radius of Cologne. This area encompasses some of Germany's largest cities and some of the world's most important cultural attractions.
Families named Heidkemper can also be found in many other countries. It is common in Belgium, the United States, Canada, and other parts of Europe. It is also known in countries including South Africa, Argentina and India.
The Heidkemper surname has been present in various parts of Germany for centuries. Interestingly, some of the earliest records of the name are from religious records in the year 1623. Since then, Heidkemper families have spread out over various areas of the country – some settling in the urban cities whilst others branching out to inhabit rural areas..
Whilst the surname is still common today, there are hints that its usage is beginning to dip in some areas. This could be attributed to the rising divorce rate and increasing migration of young people away from their hometowns. As such, its usage is beginning to move away from the core areas of Germany where it was once commonplace.
Variations of the surname Heidkemper
The surname Heidkemper is of German and Dutch origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the German words "heid" meaning heath and "kemper" meaning to guard, protect or tend. Variants of the surname include Heidkamp, Heidkampen, Heitkemper and Heitkamp. In some areas, the spelling has evolved to Heidkamper and Heidkamperm. Within the Netherlands, the variants used include Heitkamper and Heidkampen.
In the Low German region, the variant spellings Heidkemper, Heitkempers and Heitkampers are commonly used. In the United States and other English-speaking countries, many variants of the surname have evolved including Heidekamp, Heidkamp, Heidecamper, Heidkamper and Heidkemper.
Variants of the surname in other parts of Europe include Heidkemmper in Germany and Heidaemper in Switzerland. The Polish equivalent of the surname is Heidkamper.
Surnames related to Heidkemper include Heidecke, Heideckels, Heidegger and Heidegge. In some areas, the surname could have been spelled with initials or with hyphens. Alternately, the name might have become gender specific, resulting in Heidkemperin, for a female, or with nicknames, such as Heidkemperling for a male.
Depending on the region, Heidkemper can also be written as Haidkemper, Haydkemper, Heidekemper, Huitkemper, Huydkemper and Hiedkemper. Over the centuries the spelling of the surname has evolved in various forms.
Famous people with the name Heidkemper
- Melissa Heidkemper, former American professional beach volleyball player
- Lars Heidkemper, German professional football (soccer) player
- Lina Heidkemper, professional German tennis player
- Robert Heidkemper, Award-winning German film director
- Florian Heidkemper, German music producer and songwriter
- Reinhard Heidkemper, German former professional basketball coach
- Will Heidkemper, British actor and voice over artist
- Barry Heidkemper, Canadian professor of energy engineering who has worked on energy efficient buildings
- Diane Heidkemper, American politician
- Kalle Heidkemper, German video game designer