Surname Steinkaemper - Meaning and Origin
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Steinkaemper: What does the surname Steinkaemper mean?
Steinkaemper is a German surname and often is found in the western regions of Northern Germany (Lower Saxony, North Rhine Westphalia). The name likely derives from the Middle High German "Stinchenkemper", which is made out of two components: "Stinchen" which translates to "small stone" and "kemper" which was used to describe a soldier, one who is employed for protection. Therefore, Steinkaemper is likely a descriptive surname, signifying someone who was a "small stone soldier".
In the era when the name was first found, some soldiers were paid very little, and were not part of the professional army, but more of a militia. The most likely scenario is that ancestor of the Steinkaemper family was one of these soldiers, referred to as a "kemper". This individual also had some association, either to the local area or the Lord to whom they served, that included "small stone". This could have been due to the local stone fortifications, a local road he maintained, or a small stone property marker adorned the boundary of the lord's estate.
Today, the Steinkaemper name is still relatively popular in the areas of Northern Germany, and has spread to other countries in Europe, as well as North America due to migration. The name is a reminder of an ancestor soldier who was willing to protect his master's estate, and who endowed his family name with the same strong spirit.
Order DNA origin analysisSteinkaemper: Where does the name Steinkaemper come from?
The surname Steinkaemper is most commonly found today in Germany, particularly in the states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. Within those regions, the Steinkaemper family is found in cities such as Bielefeld, Minden, and Andernach. Outside of Germany, the name is less commonly found, though the United States and Brazil both have small populations with the Steinkaemper surname.
In the United States, the majority of Steinkaemper families are located in the midwestern states, particularly Nebraska, Indiana, and Kansas. The earliest records of the surname in the country are found in the mid-19th century Federal censuses, which indicate that immigrants from Germany and other European countries brought the Steinkaemper name to the US. There are also records of Steinkaemper families in the 1800s living in New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Michigan.
In Brazil, the Steinkaemper family may have originated as early as 1895. In the early 20th century, there were records of Steinkaemper settlers living in Rio Grande do Sul and Minas Gerais. The majority of Brazilians with the Steinkaemper surname currently live in Minas Gerais and Bahia, as well as in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Today, many members of the Steinkaemper family reside in Germany and the United States, as well as in other countries around the world. The family name is now found in small populations in Australia, Canada, Paraguay, Argentina, and France.
Variations of the surname Steinkaemper
The surname Steinkaemper is said to be of German origin and is found mainly in the Lower Rhine region of the country. Variants of this name include Steinkemper, Steinkempen, Steinkämper, Steinkamp, Steinkemmper and Steinkemper.
Typically, as German surnames evolve, more variants and alternative spellings emerge over time. However, the main variations listed above appear to be the most common spellings used for the surname Steinkaemper.
The earliest period that a recorded spelling of the surname is known to be found is the late 16th century with the spelling of John Steincamper from 1690, who is listed in the records for the region of Langenfeld.
Other early records of the name in Germany include Just Steinkemper of Oberhausen in 1590; Michael Steinkempen from the village of Drevenack in 1593; Hans Steinkemmper of Düsseldorf in 1602; and Johann Steinkempen of Kalkum in 1659.
The Steinkaemper surname is also found in countries like the US, where immigrants of German or Dutch origin have settled over the centuries. Variants, such as Steenkamp, may be found in Dutch speaking countries like South Africa, Belgium and The Netherlands.
Overall, it is thought that the surname Steinkaemper derived from the Germanic "stein", which refers to a stony area, plus the ending ‘-kemper’ which indicates an enclosure or boundary. Therefore, the name is likely to have originally referred to someone who lived by a boundary wall or enclosure made with stones.
Famous people with the name Steinkaemper
- Jed Steinkaemper: Professional NFL player who was drafted to the Seattle Seahawks in 2011.
- Norm Steinkaemper: American basketball player, known for his prolific scoring ability while playing in both college and the professional leagues.
- Phil Steinkaemper: Former professional snowboarder and athlete who founded a network of ski and snowboarding schools in Canada.
- Hans Steinkaemper: Ground-breaking German dancer and choreographer, credited with helping to introduce modern ballet to Germany in the 1930s.
- Peter Steinkaemper: Award-winning German composer, songwriter, and producer, best known for his works in jazz and popular music.
- Rushin Steinkaemper: Brazilian YouTube celebrity with over 1.1 million subscribers, also known as Waxoo.
- Barry Steinkaemper: Award-winning American film director, known for his work on classics like 1975's The Wind and the Willows.
- Fred Steinkaemper: Early American aviator, credited with being among the first to fly within the continental United States.
- S.L. Steinkaemper: Award-winning American novelist, professor, and self-proclaimed "wire junkie," best known for his novels The Wall and The Surface.
- Gabrielle Steinkaemper: German actress, perhaps best known for her recurring role as "Anna" in the comedic German television series Allerlei.