Surname Camp - Meaning and Origin
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Unveiling the Genetic Blueprint of 'Camp': A Personal Journey through iGENEA DNA Test
An experience with the iGENEA DNA test leads to fascinating discoveries about the heritage and history of the surname 'Camp'. Explore how the test facilitates connections to distant relatives and consider the impact this has on personal identity.
D. Camp
read moreCamp: What does the surname Camp mean?
The surname Camp is of English, French, and Dutch origin. In the English context, it typically derived from a geographical or occupational name for someone who lived or worked in an open field or a battlefield, which was called "camp" in medieval English. In the French context, this name came from "champ," which means "field" and was used to suggest a person residing near a field or agricultural expanse. Meanwhile, in the Dutch context, the surname typically translates to 'field' or 'battle'. The name also has roots in Latin or Italian, where "campo" means "field". Thus, the surname is closely associated with someone who either lived in or worked on a field, whether for farming or battlefield purposes.
Order DNA origin analysisCamp: Where does the name Camp come from?
The surname Camp is said to be of English and Dutch origin, deriving from the Middle Ages. In England, it is believed to be derived from the Old English 'camp', which signifies a battle or field of combat. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, it might have originated from 'kamp,' meaning a field or a piece of ground. Others suggest that it could have came from the Latin 'campus,' implying 'a field.' It is therefore considered that the original bearers of the surname might have lived by a battlefield or in a particularly festive field or meadow.
Today, this surname has dispersed across the world due to immigration and population movement, predominantly in English-speaking countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It is also still present in the Netherlands and other European countries. In the United States, the surname is most densely populated around the Southeast, specifically the states of Georgia and Alabama. Furthermore, there is also a significant concentration of families with the surname Camp in South Africa.
Variations of the surname Camp
The surname Camp is of French and English origin, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have emerged as a locational surname referring to someone who lived in or near an open field or a battlefield. Variants of the surname Camp, which share the same origin, include Campe, Camps, Kemp, Kempe, Kemps, and Kempt.
The Kemp and Kempe variants are more common in England and northern Europe, while Camp and Campe are more prevalent in France and southern Europe. The additional "s" in Camps and Kemps denotes a possessive form, meaning "of Camp" or "of Kemp", and was commonly used to indicate sonship.
In some cases, the name has also been spelled as Campi, Camplin, Campling, or de Camp, especially in records from the 16th and 17th centuries. These variations were likely the result of phonetic spellings by scribes and clerks, as standardized spelling practices were not yet widely adopted.
There are also records of the surname being Americanized into Kamp or Kamps among early immigrants to U.S. Furthermore, there may be related surnames from other languages that interpret the meaning 'field' or 'battlefield' such as Feld or Paddock.
Famous people with the name Camp
- Colleen Camp: An American actress and film producer, best known for her roles in "Apocalypse Now" and "Clue".
- Anna Camp: An American actress, known for her roles in "Pitch Perfect" and "True Blood".
- Hamilton Camp: A British-American actor, singer, and songwriter who had a prolific career in live-action and voice work in movies and television.
- Greg Camp: An American Grammy-nominated songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist. He is the founding member of the band Smash Mouth.
- Jeff Camp: An former American football player in the NFL.
- Julia Butterfly Hill (born as Julia Lorraine Hill): An American environmental activist and tax redirection advocate who lived in a 180-foot (55 m)-tall, roughly 1500-year-old California Redwood tree for 738 days between 1997 and 1999. She was humorously referred to as "Butterfly" due to her propensity for dressing up in colorful butterfly-themed outfits in Camp.
- Maj. Gen. Walter Mason Camp: An American football player, coach, sports writer and also considered as "Father of American Football".
- Steve Camp: An American contemporary Christian music artist and pastor.
- Dick Camp: A politician from Michigan who served in the United States House of Representatives.
- Billy Camp: An American football player.