Surname Steinkemper - Meaning and Origin
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Steinkemper: What does the surname Steinkemper mean?
Steinkemper is an occupational surname of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German words ‘stain’ or ‘steine’ which mean ‘stone’ and ‘kemper’ which means ‘working with’. Combined, the name Steinkemper means ‘stone worker’ or ‘stone mason’.
The surname Steinkemper first appeared in the late Middle Ages in Southwestern Germany, in the area corresponding to the modern-day Rhineland-Palatinate. During that time, many people lived in small farming communities; stone masons were essential to build the churches, chapels, houses and residences these communities needed. As a result, the surname was commonly given to stone masons as a recognition of their skills and hard work.
Today, the surname Steinkemper has spread throughout Germany and beyond. Although it is still associated with stone work, it is now used more broadly to denote a skilled worker in general. This association has spawned other occupational surnames from Steinkemper, such as Steinmetz (stone cutter), Steinhoff (stone miller) and Steinhauer (stone plasterer).
In conclusion, the last name Steinkemper originates in German occupational language and is derived from the words ‘stone’ and ‘working with’. It was originally used to denote a stone mason or worker, but today it is used to recognize a skilled worker in general. It has also led to the creation of other occupational surnames related to stone work.
Order DNA origin analysisSteinkemper: Where does the name Steinkemper come from?
The last name Steinkemper is most commonly found today in Germany, where it is among the top 500 most common surnames. It is thought to have originated as an occupational name during the Middle Ages, when Steinkemper was used to denote a stone cutter. However, it is also found in various other countries, including the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, and Australia, hinting at a spread of migration.
In larger countries such as the United States, the name can be found in most states, although it is more common in some states than others. For instance, the surname is particularly common in the Midwest, appearing among the 500 most common surnames in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas. It is thought that this is due to a wave of German immigrants who settled in these states in the 19th century.
In looking at other countries with a significant German population such as the Netherlands and Canada, one can find the name Steinkemper among the top 1% of surnames there as well. Immigration from Germany to other countries, particularly during the 19th century, is the main cause for this wide spread. As such, the surname Steinkemper is relatively common and can be found across the world.
Variations of the surname Steinkemper
The surname Steinkemper is of German origin and is spelled variously as Steinkemper, Steinkempfer, Steinkepfer, Steinkeppfer, Stamper, Steinkerpfer, Steinkerppfer, Sterinkper, Steinkamper, Steinkammpfer, Steinkampf, and Sticker.
The surname Steinkemper is derived from the German words “stein” which means “stone” and “kamp” which means “battle” or “field”. Thus, the literal meaning of the surname is “one who fights on the battlefield” or “the one who sets the stone of victory”.
The various spellings of the name can be attributed to the evolution of languages and dialects in Germany. The spelling Steinkemper can typically be found in areas of north-western Germany such as More in Westfalen, Stadthagen and Hameln, where the dialect is described as High German.
The other spellings of the name Steinkemper such as Steinkempfer and Steinkerppfer are more common in the South, in Baden-Wurttemberg, where the dialect is described as Low German.
Surnames such as Stamper and Steinkampf most likely originated as a toponymic name, a name denoting a family’s origin or residence.
Other common surnames of similar origin include Steinke, Stemmer, Steinhauer, Steiner and Steinemann. The surname Stemmer is derived from the Middle High German “stemme” which means “pile of stones”. The surnames Steinhauer and Steiner denote workers in a stone quarry, and Steinemann means “stone man”.
The spelling Steinkemper remains the most common variant of the name today.
Famous people with the name Steinkemper
- Mark Steinkemper, American lawyer and non-profit executive
- Bianca Steinkemper, German swimmer
- Julia Steinkemper, German soccer player
- Edward Steinkemper, American historian
- Mike Steinkemper, American former NFL 119th draft pick
- Frederick Steinkemper, American business executive
- Bernard Steinkemper, a former All-American college football player
- Rolland Steinkemper, former professional baseball player
- Robert Steinkemper, German sociologist
- Alberto Steinkemper, Brazilian football player
- Kathryn Steinkemper, an American abstract expressionist painter
- Patrick Steinkemper, American industrial engineer
- David Steinkemper, former NASCAR driver
- Christian Steinkemper, German software entrepreneur
- Marjorie Steinkemper, a Canadian competitive curler
- Steven Steinkemper, former American figure skater
- Gary Steinkemper, American golf instructor
- Thomas Steinkemper, German center-back football player