| ![Show Contents]() Campen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Nestled between the Rhine and Wesser rivers is the ancient German region of Westphalia. Westphalia, the home of the name Campen. Hereditary surnames were adopted in this region after the 12th century, and surnames were derived from localities were common. Local surnames originally denoted the proprietorship of the village or estate. When coupled with the German preposition von, which means from or of, local names can indicate that the initial bearer of the name was an aristocrat. The Campen family originally lived on or near a flat area of land which is derived from the Latin word campus, which referred to an enclosed area of flat land. It is also derived from the Latin word champhus, which means battle. Thus, the original bearer originally lived on a flat piece of land, which was either the sight of a great battle or was as level as a battlefield. Early Origins of the Campen familyThe surname Campen was first found in Westphalia, where the family became noted for its many branches within the region, many houses acquiring a status and influence which rivaled that of the landed aristocracy. In their later history some branches were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they distinguished themselves through their contributions to the social, political, and economic developments of the nation. Early History of the Campen familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Campen research. Another 279 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1163, 1201, 1259, 1272, 1336, 1373, 1380, 1515, 1609, 1660, 1675, 1746, 1747 and 1818 are included under the topic Early Campen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Campen Spelling VariationsOne can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Campen include Camp, Campe, Campen, Camper, Camperer, Campere, Campner, Kamp, Kampe and many more. Early Notables of the Campen familyAnother 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Campen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Campen familyMany Germans emigrated across the Atlantic to seek better lives in North America. This great migration began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century. Resettlement was particularly attractive to those from Westphalia as a means of escape from poverty and religious persecution. For many Westphalian farmers, the chance to own one's own land was also a major incentive. The process of the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlements centered around Ontario and the Prairie provinces. Among them were: Marie Magdalene Kamp, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1729. Frantz Carl von Campe landed there in 1752. Christ and Sophie Klause Kampe settled in Texas in 1845..
| Contemporary Notables of the name Campen (post 1700) | + |
- Isaac Van Campen, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Sussex County, 1781-84 1
- George Van Campen, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 33rd District, 1880 1
- William H. Campen, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Nebraska, 1952 2
- Joseph Green Campen, American politician, Member of North Carolina State Senate. Interment somewhere in Edenton, North Carolina 2
- Donald O. Campen Jr. (b. 1920), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1968; Candidate for Presidential Elector for Virginia, 1968 2
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