Surname Westkemper - Meaning and Origin
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Westkemper: What does the surname Westkemper mean?
The last name Westkemper is of German origin. Derived from the German words ‘West’ and ‘Kämpe’, the surname indicates that a person with this name likely hails from a small town in West Germany. The ‘West’ part of the name signifies that the bearer is from a region in the westernmost part of the country, indicating a connection to Lower Saxony, Bremen, and even Hamburg. The ‘Kämpe’ part of the name refers to a professional wrestler or ‘Kämpf’. It is therefore not unlikely that a bearer of the name Westkemper is descended from a German professional wrestler, or a family of wrestlers. In some cases, the name Westkemper may also be an anglicization of the Dutch patronymic Westerskamp, or the Dutch spelling of the German name Westkamp. The use of such a name indicates a possible Dutch origin.
In any case, Westkemper is a unique and recognizable surname that means different things to different people. It clearly has a historic connection to western Germany, or even the Netherlands, and possibly even wrestling. Whatever its true origin, the name brings its bearer distinction and a connection to the past.
Order DNA origin analysisWestkemper: Where does the name Westkemper come from?
Today, the last name Westkemper is most common in North America, particularly in the United States. According to surname databases, the majority of people with the Westkemper surname are found in the U.S. states of Ohio, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. Other states with a large concentration of Westkemper include California, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. Westkemper is also encountered in Canada, with its greatest presence in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.
Worldwide, Westkemper is a fairly uncommon surname, although it's most prevalent in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This surname also appears in nearby countries such as Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In addition, Westkemper can be found in small numbers in such far-flung places as Brazil, Mexico, Australia, and India.
The exact origin of the Westkemper surname is not known, but it is thought to have originated in Germany centuries ago. The name appears to have originally indicated a person or family living near a west-facing wooded hill or steppe.
Variations of the surname Westkemper
Westkemper is a surname of German origin. It is derived from a habitational name for someone who lived in Westkämper, a village in the Steinfurt district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The variants of the surname Westkemper include Westkemper, Westkamp, Vestkemper, Westkampen, Westkämper, Westkaemper, and Westkampen.
The spelling changes of Westkemper are also quite common, and the surname has been spelt Vestkemp, Westkemp, Westkamp, and Westkamper by some families. The double ‘p’ at the end of Westkemper is not always necessary, and is often dropped in certain German speaking areas.
Variations of the surname Westkemper also exist within other German speaking countries including Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg. Variants such as Westerschepper, Westschäfer, Westschepper, and Westschaeffer are also seen in those countries.
The surname Westkemper is also seen in the Netherlands and in other parts of Europe. There, variants such as Westkamp, Westkamper, Westkemper, and Westschafer are commonly used.
Variations of Westkemper are also found in English-speaking countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. These include Westemper, Westhamper, Westkepper, Westkamp, and Westkamper.
In conclusion, Westkemper is a German surname with a wide range of spelling variants and surnames of the same origin. Variants include Westkamp, Vestkemper, Westkaemper, Westkämper, Westkampen, Westerschepper, Westschäfer, Westschepper, Westschaeffer, Westemper, Westhamper, Westkepper, and Westkamp.
Famous people with the name Westkemper
- Katherine Westkemper, a casting director for films and television
- Rebecca Westkemper, a Graphic Designer and Product Manager for J&J and GE Global
- Philip Westkemper, a German Politician
- Gary Westkemper, an American Politician
- Allison Westkemper, an American interior designer
- John Westkemper, a Montana politician
- William Westkemper, a German composer
- Tim Westkemper, a German actor
- Ray Westkemper, an American luthier and musician
- Bill Westkemper, a Canadian actor
- Richard Westkemper, an American product designer
- Joseph Westkemper, an American web designer
- Larry Westkemper, a German actor
- Brian Westkemper, an American film producer, director and screenwriter