Surname Weitkemper - Meaning and Origin
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Weitkemper: What does the surname Weitkemper mean?
The last name Weitkemper is of German origin. It is a combination of two words, “weit,” which means “far,” and “kemper,” which means “comrade or companion.” This suggests that the name is a reference to a person who is good at traveling and is often accompanied by companions.
In the Middle Ages, the Weitkemper name may have been used to describe a person who was in charge of a wagon caravan. A caravan was a large group of people from a nearby village who traveled together in carts with goods and animals such as cattle. A Weitkemper would have been the one who led the caravan, arranging its route and taking care of the needs of the travelers.
In more modern times, the Weitkemper name is likely associated with people who are excellent travelers. The name suggests a person who is well-traveled, capable of leading large groups, and has excellent interpersonal skills to ensure that everyone in the group are taken care of.
Overall, the last name Weitkemper suggests a person who is resilient, resourceful, and reliable. It is a person who can be trusted to lead a group of people safely to their destination.
Order DNA origin analysisWeitkemper: Where does the name Weitkemper come from?
The last name Weitkemper is most commonly found in Germany, although its presence has been observed in various other countries. In fact, Weitkemper is the 6,426th most common surname in Germany as of 2018.
In the United States, the last name Weitkemper is somewhat less common, but it's still fairly widespread. The 2010 US Census recorded 660 people with the surname Weitkemper, most of whom resided in states such as Wisconsin, California, and Illinois.
Other countries in which the surname Weitkemper has been observed include Canada, Argentina, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The most recent statistics available indicate that there were about 78 people with the last name Weitkemper in Canada, 1,341 in Argentina, 66 in Switzerland, and 309 in the Netherlands.
Ultimately, the surname Weitkemper is most commonly found in Germany, but there is a substantial number of people with this last name scattered around various regions of the world.
Variations of the surname Weitkemper
The surname Weitkemper is an ancient German surname, thought to be derived from the Old High German words "weit" (far) and "kemper" (soldier). It is found in records since the 16th century.
The surname can take many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of these spellings include Weitkamper, Weitkamp, Welankamper, Welkamper, Welkenkamp, Weitkenkamp, Weitledamp, Wieldenkamp, Welankamper, Weltenkamp, Welkenkampen, Welkemper, Wietkamp, Veitkamp, Weidkanpp, Weydkamp and Waidkamp.
Surnames of the same origin can include Weithe, Weithel, Weith, Weithen, Weithelm, Weithenmuller, Wiehl, Wiel, Wiell, Wiele, Wieler and Breitenkamp.
The spelling Weitkemper is of somewhat localized use in Germany, and it is not particularly common. It is found mostly in the western states, with the majority of bearers being located in the state of North Rhine Westphalia. It is also found in small numbers in the neighboring states of Lower Saxony, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Wurttemberg. More common spellings of the surname within Germany are Welkenkamp and Weitkamper, and they can be found in all of the previously mentioned states except for Rhineland-Palatinate. Outside of Germany, the surname is not particularly common.
Famous people with the name Weitkemper
- Yvonne Weitkemper: German actress
- Kate Weitkemper: American actress
- Martin Weitkemper: German soccer player
- James Weitkemper: American politician
- George Weitkemper: American stage magician
- John Weitkemper: American pool player
- Helmut Weitkemper: German physicist
- Joe Weitkemper: American country musician
- Sebastian Weitkemper: German pianist
- Susanna Weitkemper: Austrian sculptor