Surname Kempter - Meaning and Origin
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Kempter: What does the surname Kempter mean?
The surname Kempter is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word “kempt,” which translates to “tidy” or “neat.” The name likely once referred to an individual who was highly organized and efficient, and is likely derived from the occupation of being a gardener or domestic servant. As such, bearers of the name Kempter may have been artisans or craftsmen who were adept at their craft, and able to manage their tasks in an orderly fashion.
The surname is still widely popular today, with various spellings present in different countries and languages, such as Kempterer in Germany, Kempster in England and Kemptor in Scotland.
The surname is often found among people of differing backgrounds, with bearers of the name arriving from a variety of countries over the centuries. Today, the name is associated with individuals across the world who have either adopted the name from its ancestral roots, or been born into it.
No matter the origin of bearers of the surname, it remains a powerful reminder of the value of patience, organization, and pride in one's work that goes with the name Kempter. The name also serves as a reminder of the shared history that binds us despite a variety of backgrounds.
Order DNA origin analysisKempter: Where does the name Kempter come from?
The last name Kempter is most commonly seen today in Southern Germany and Austria. This surname is derived from the Germanic word 'Kempten', meaning 'a house on a hill'. It is thought to have been given to a person who lived near or on a hill, or perhaps the head of a house that stood on a hill.
The earliest recorded document of the surname is an entry in a German tax census document from 1564. This document recorded the name 'Kempter', and mentions that the family was from the village of Loerrach near Freiburg in Germany.
As the name spread throughout the region, it took on variations like Kemptner and Kempfer, and eventually families with the name migrated to other European countries such as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Austria.
Today, there are about 1,620 people in Germany with the surname Kempter, and the name is also found in Austria, Switzerland, the United States, and even in Canada and Australia. In the United States, there are about 688 people who bear the name Kempter.
The surname is most commonly spelled as 'Kempter', but other variants, like Kempfer, Kemptener, and Kempfel are all used today.
Variations of the surname Kempter
Kempter, Kempthorn, Kempster, Kempton, Kemper, Kemptor, Kempthorpe, Kempt filler are all variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The surname Kempter is of German origin and is a variant of the name Kempe, which is derived from Middle German “Kamper” or “Kamperkien”. This name originally referred to someone who lived or worked near a bend in a river, particularly in eastern Germany and Ukraine. In some cases, Kempter can be a patronymic – derived from a father’s given name.
The variant spellings of Kempter likely resulted from the fact that family names were not standardized prior to the 1800s. As a result, spelling variations were common among family names. These variations can have several sources, including the change from languages such as German, to English, which often altered spellings of names. Additionally, individuals often purposely changed their names to make them easier to spell or simpler to pronounce as they moved to other countries.
The Kempthorn, Kempster, Kempton, Kemper, Kemptor, Kempthorpe and Kempt filler spellings are all believed to be variations of the original surname Kemuter. Variations in spellings that cannot be found in Germany like Kempthorpe and Kempt filler are typically variants which occur in English-speaking countries as a result of anglicized spellings. While Kempter is the most common spelling of the name, variations do exist and can be found in both German and English-speaking countries.
Famous people with the name Kempter
- Caren Kempter: German actress
- Almut Kempter: German actress
- David Kempter: American movie actor
- Anton Kempter: German actor and comedian
- Florian Kempter: German ice dancer
- Linda Kempter: German actress
- Pia Kempter: German film actress
- Thomas Kempter: Austrian actor, voice actor, director and scriptwriter
- Barbara Kempter: American make-up artist
- Hartmut Kempter: German actor and theatre director