Surname Kleikemper - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kleikemper: What does the surname Kleikemper mean?
The last name Kleikemper is of German origin. It is derived from the German term 'Kleid's, meaning 'cousin' or 'relative'. The suffix 'kemper' is derived from the German term 'kempen', which means 'a fighter'. It can also be used to describe someone who is bold and courageous.
The name Kleikemper is likely to have been used to denote strong family ties between those linked to it, as it refers to a kind of extended family member. This is because in German culture family connections were highly valuable and determined one's identity and status.
In the modern day, the name Kleikemper is still used in Germany and other German-speaking nations. It is also found in the United States, where its bearer's connections to Germany or their German heritage are likely to have been retained.
In summary, the last name Kleikemper is of German origin and translates to 'cousin' or 'relative' combined with 'fighter', rooting from the German culture. It is still often used in Germany and other countries, and is likely to denote strong family ties.
Order DNA origin analysisKleikemper: Where does the name Kleikemper come from?
The last name Kleikemper is predominantly found in Germany today. In fact, the German phonebook shows that more than 800 people currently bear this name. It is most common in the western parts of Germany, such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Bremen. It is also found in the north-eastern part of the country, mainly in Brandenburg. This part of Germany is populated mainly by German Lutherans, and many of those Lutherans carry the last name Kleikemper.
However, the name cannot be found in every part of the country. For example, it is relatively uncommon in Bavaria, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, and it is virtually non-existent in Baden-Württemberg.
This unusual surname has been around in some form since at least the 15th century, as evidenced by records of a man named Ottentoni Kleikemper in the city of Erfurt in 1425. Since then, various members of the Kleikemper family have left their mark in numerous parts of Germany, from Harz to Oldenburg to Flanders.
Today, the Kleikemper family can be found mostly in its original home of Germany, but it is not exclusively German. Due to the country's historical connections with other nations, descendants of the Kleikemper family can be found in places such as the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and even as far away as Canada and the United States.
Variations of the surname Kleikemper
The surname Kleikemper is of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Middle High German nickname ‘Kleikimme’, which literally translates to ‘little courage’ or ‘courageous little one’. It became established as a name for families of which the members were considered brave. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Kleikemper include Kliekamper, Kliekemper, Kleikamp, Kleemper, Kleimker, Kleimkuhl, Kluikamper, and Klykemper.
The surname has spread to the Dutch provinces of North and South Holland, as well as Germany, the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world. In the United States, the primary states where Kleikemper families can be found are Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland.
The Schleswig-Holstein regions of Germany also have many Kleimkers and Klykemper families. This surname is also found in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord-Brabant.
Altogether, Kleikemper is a fairly common surname. It is unique in its nickname origin and has withstood the cultural changes and migrations of the centuries to become an important part of family trees around the world.
Famous people with the name Kleikemper
- Fabian Kleikemper, professional German footballer.
- Boris Kleikemper, German actor.
- Katrin Kleikemper, German journalist.
- Jörg Kleikemper, German former footballer.
- Hartmut Kleikemper, German poet.
- Frederick Kleikemper, German former footballer.
- August Kleikemper, German doctor.
- Robert Kleikemper, German entrepreneur.
- Friedrich Kleikemper, German artist.
- Michael Kleikemper, German entrepreneur.
- Viktor Kleikemper, German former football manager.
- Anja Kleikemper, German journalist.
- Tobias Kleikemper, German former footballer.
- Katinka Kleikemper, German former handball player.
- Jens Kleikemper, German audio engineer.
- Uwe Kleikemper, German former footballer.
- Investigational Repository for Germplasm Resources kno Kleikemper, German natural sciences research institute.