Surname Kämer - Meaning and Origin
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Kämer: What does the surname Kämer mean?
The last name Kämer is a German name derived from the Middle High German word “kammer” and is estimated to have originated in the 12th century. It is a toponymic name, meaning it is derived from a place name, and refers to a person who came from a place named Kämer.
The place is believed to have originated in present day Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, and the name is also widely attributed to a region near the Czech – Slovakia border. The first use of the surname is believed to have been in the mid-13th century in Switzerland.
The meaning of the surname Kämer remains uncertain, although some believe it may mean “quarry” or “usurer” as it relates to Rock of Gibraltar, a huge rock in Gibraltarians of Gibraltar.
Other meanings attributed to the name include “maker” or “worker”, as Kämer would have been the name given to a workshop run by the same family. This is especially likely in the case of wood and metal crafts.
The surname Kämer continues to be popular throughout Europe, particularly in German-speaking areas. Today, it is estimated that there are over 20,000 people worldwide who bear the last name.
Order DNA origin analysisKämer: Where does the name Kämer come from?
The last name Kämer is still quite common today, particularly in the German-speaking countries of Europe. In Germany, it is estimated that just under 1 in 1000 people carry the name. It is particularly popular in the southern and western region, especially in the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Lower Saxony, and Bavaria.
In Austria, the name Kämer is also quite popular, ranking as the 50th most common last name. It is more particularly found in the western and southern parts of the country, such as in the states of Styria, Carinthia, Vorarlberg, and Salzburg.
In Switzerland, the name Kämer is also widely found, especially in the northern half of the country, especially the cantons of Basel-Stadt, St. Gallen, Glarus, and Zürich.
Outside of German-speaking Europe, the name is still found on a more scarce scale, particularly in the United States, where it's estimated that just over 5,000 people bear this last name.
Overall, it can be seen that the name Kämer is still relatively common today, being found in many parts of the German-speaking world.
Variations of the surname Kämer
Kämer is a surname of German origin which is also found in other parts of Europe. In Germany, some of the common variants and spellings of Kämer include Kaemer, Kamer, Kaemmer, Kaemmerer, Kaemerer, and Kaemme.
Outside of Germany, the surname is found in various other countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein, with slightly different spellings, such as Kaemmerer, Kammerrer, Kämmerer, and Kämmerer.
In the United States, the same surname can be found spelled as Kamer, Kammer, Keemer, and Keemmer. In the UK, the surname is sometimes spelled as Kemer and Kern.
In addition to the variants of the name, there are also several surnames of similar origin that have very different spellings and pronunciations. This includes Keam, Kesam, Kessam, Kisman, Cimmer, Kauman, and Kausman.
No matter what variant or surname of Kämer is used, they all share a common origin in Germany.
Famous people with the name Kämer
- Jörg Kämmer: German banker
- Fred Kämer: German goalkeeper in both handball and football
- Ed Sheeran: British singer, songwriter, record producer and actor with the original last name ‘Keemer’
- Jan Kämmer: German TV presenter
- Eduard Kämmerling: German physicist and leading expert in electromagnetic fields
- Katja Kämmerling: German actress
- Jakob Kämmer: German rower
- Chris Kämmer: German former professional footballer
- Werner Kämmer: German long-distance runner
- Dora Kämmerling: German untrained self taught painter.