Surname Kaschemekat - Meaning and Origin

Kaschemekat: What does the surname Kaschemekat mean?

The last name Kaschemekat is an old, German-language name that roughly translates to “someone who lives in a backyard.” The name is believed to originate from the Middle High German word “kaschenmacher,” which was a descriptor for someone who lived in a cramped living space, likely within the confines of someone else’s backyard.

This type of living arrangement was likely based both on necessity and affordability, since it cost very little to rent or occupy such an area. Historically, this type of living style was also common amongst those in the lower classes or with few resources in the German-speaking regions of Europe, as such cramped living spaces often ran less risk of drawing attention from feudal lords with an eye toward enforcing unfavourable taxes. Among those who lived in this type of living space was the 16th century German mystic, Johannes Kaczmarek.

The name became adopted in its anglicized form, Kaschemekat, during migration periods in the 18th and 19th centuries, as those of German-speaking origin settled in large numbers around the world. Even so, many of the bearers of the name maintained a sense of connection to their German homeland, hence their desire to hold on to a meaningful family name of German origin. As such, the Kaschemekat family designation has been an evocative reminder of home for many generations of scattered families.

Kaschemekat: Where does the name Kaschemekat come from?

The surname Kaschemekat is most prevalent today in parts of Germany, particularly in the region of Lower Saxony. It is also found in small numbers in Belgium, Denmark, France, and the Netherlands.

The origins of this name are somewhat uncertain. It appears to be a name of German origin but there are also suggestions that it may be of Dutch, Belgian, or Scandinavian origin. The name is thought to have originally been spelt as Kaschemat, but the modern spelling of Kaschemekat is now more common.

The meaning of the name is unclear but it is thought to be derived from the Old High German words ‘kaschine’, meaning ‘excavated trough’, and ‘mechat’, meaning ‘wheel’. This suggests that the name was originally given to someone from a family of wheelwrights.

The earliest records of this surname date back to the 15th century in the German town of Oldenburg, where it was used as an occupational surname for jewellers. By the 16th century, the surname had spread to other parts of Germany and was increasingly being adopted as a permanent family name.

Today there are many variants of the surname on record, including Kaschemeke, Kaschemekeh, Kaschemecke, and Kaschemeckeh. It is still common in parts of Germany, particularly in Lower Saxony. It is also found in small numbers in other countries in Europe such as France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark.

Variations of the surname Kaschemekat

Kaschemekat is a rare Polish surname with no known variants, spellings or surnames of the same origin. However, due to the country's significant contributions to Jewish population in Europe, there is a small possibility that the surname could be linked to a Jewish family of Eastern European descent.

In such cases, the surname could also be found spelled as Kasemakat, Kasekmekat, Kasmekecat, Kazemekat, or even Kasemeket. These alternatives, however, are likely to be uncommon.

Another possibility is that Kaschemekat could be linked to the German surname Kaschmekat, which is also a very rare surname. This surname has a variant spelling of Kaschmekot which is also uncommon.

As a further note, surnames from any nationality, culture, religion or language can be found to have similar origins and spellings, regardless of one's own heritage. As an example, Kaschemekat could be linked to other Polish surnames which may sound, or even be spelt, similarly, such as Kaschmekewiec, Kaschmekewicz, or Kaschmekewski. Such similarities trace back to common roots which may have been shared centuries ago.

In conclusion, Kaschemekat is a rare Polish surname which is unlikely to have any known variants, spellings or surnames of the same origin. Yet, due to the ever-evolving nature of surnames, and their potential to be linked to any nationality, there is always the possibility of similar sounding names being found.

Famous people with the name Kaschemekat

• Wolfgang Kaschemekat (German field hockey player and World and European champion)
• Klaus Kaschemekat (West German sprint canoer who participated in the 1972 Summer Olympics, the 1976 Summer Olympics, and the 1980 Summer Olympics)
• Michael Kaschemekat (West German rower who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics)
• Martina Kaschemekat (German field hockey player and three-time Olympic gold medal winner)
• Jessica Kaschemekat (German judoka and Olympic gold medalist)
• Erica Kaschemekat (West German track and field athlete who competed in the 100 metres and 200 metres at the 1984 Olympics)
• Max Kaschemekat (West German pole vaulter and two-time World Championship bronze medalist)
• Maren Kaschemekat (West German long-distance runner who won the silver medal in the 5000 metres at the 1984 Olympics)
• Jens Kaschemekat (West German swimmer who won three medals in the 400-meter and 200-meter freestyle events at the 1988 Summer Olympics)
• Heike Kaschemekat (East German swimmer who held multiple world records in the pool and won two Olympic gold medals)

Other surnames

Kaschemeck