Surname Camplin - Meaning and Origin
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Camplin: What does the surname Camplin mean?
The surname Camplin is of English origin and is derived from the Old French word 'campain' which means 'open land.' It is an occupational name for a worker at a camp or a messenger who traveled around delivering news to local people. Historically, Camplin is most often associated with area around Devon and Cornwall in the south west of England, though it is also noted in Herefordshire and Bedfordshire.
During the medieval period in England, the Camplin name was prevalent in the area surrounding Devon, and the name is believed to have been introduced to the region by the Normans. As with many English surnames, variants of Camplin exist such as Campion, Campin, Campany, and Campbel.
As an occupational surname, individuals with the surname Camplin often held trades related to traveling, such as that of a messenger, peddler, hawker or courier. During the 18th and 19th century, the name Camplin was also associated with English soldiers who were deployed to foreign countries, as it was common during this period for English troops to be referred to by their occupation rather than by individual names.
Today, the Camplin surname is still commonly found in England. It can also be found throughout Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States, indicating its widespread usage throughout these areas as well.
Order DNA origin analysisCamplin: Where does the name Camplin come from?
The last name Camplin is most commonly found in England and Wales today. According to the last UK census in 2018, the geographical distribution of the surname Camplin in England was highest in the counties of Lancashire and Nottinghamshire.
Camplin was a relatively rare name in the past, with only 990 individuals sharing the surname in 1881. By 1911, the population had grown to over 1,500 people, and was rising steadily. Over the course of the 20th century, the name grew in popularity, and today there are around 2,950 Camplins living in the UK.
The majority of people with the surname Camplin are concentrated in the southeast of the country, near London. Camplin is also a popular name in neighbouring Wales, where it ranked 54th in terms of popularity in 2018.
Internationally, there are around 11,000 Camplins living across the globe. The United States reported 3,400 people with the surname, while Canada, Australia and New Zealand all reported a few hundred Camplins.
Variations of the surname Camplin
The surname Camplin has many variants, spellings and surnames that are of the same origin.
The most commonly seen variant is ‘Campbell’. This is a popular Scottish surname, derived from the Gaelic ‘Caimbeul’. The name translates to mean ‘crooked mouth’ and was originally applied to someone with an uneven smile.
Alternative spellings of Campbell include Cambel, Campbelle, Cammles, Kammell and, of course, Camplin.
The surname Kembly is also believed to be of the same origin. It rose to prominence in the 16th century in the region of Cumberland, England, where it is now found primarily.
Other than those already mentioned, some other surnames with a possible connection to ‘Camplin’ include Campion, Campman, Compel, Campel and Coupman.
Although there is no definitive proof that these surnames are of the same origin, they tend to be associated with locations in Scotland and the English North and South Wales, with many families bearing these surnames appearing in records in the 1400s.
Famous people with the name Camplin
- James Camplin: British actor best known for roles in Hellboy, The Illusionist, and The Bill.
- Paul Camplin: British athlete who competed in several events in the 1908 Summer Olympics.
- Sir David Camplin: British high court judge and one of the country’s leading authorities on medical negligence.
- Christina Camplin: Australian aerobatics pilot who became world aerobatics champion in 2002.
- Tom Camplin: English writer best known for writing the children’s book 'Mr. Bloomsbury'.
- Richard Camplin: English footballer who played for clubs such as Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur.
- Chris Camplin: American actor and voice actor best known for his roles in films such as Vanilla Sky and Resident Evil: Extinction.
- Brian Camplin: English sculptor noted for his life-size figurative sculptures.
- Linda Camplin: Australian paralympic swimmer who competed in the 1996 Summer Paralympics.
- Emma Camplin-Warner: British comedy writer and television producer whose credits include writing for the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.