Kemper Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Kemper last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Kemper last name
Meaning of the Kemper last name: champion, fighter. Kemper is a German surname from Low German kempe, "champion", a man who fought in duels or tournaments, or from places called Kempen. The last name is common in Westphalia. Curiously, Thomas à Kempis, author of The Imitation of Christ, took his name from Kempen on the Lower Rhine.
Arms associated with the Kemper name
German heraldry favours bold colours and clear figures, and coats of arms associated with the Kemper surname, each with its blazon, follow that style.
Get your full Kemper family history
This is only a glimpse of the Kemper story. The full Kemper history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Kemper coat of arms. Get the full Kemper report.
Kemper name FAQ
What does the Kemper name mean?
Champion, fighter. Common variants include Kempe, Kämper.
Where does the Kemper surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in the United States, the Netherlands and Canada.
Is there a Kemper coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Kemper coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).