| ![Show Contents]() Kampa History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany Nestled between the Rhine and Wesser rivers is the ancient German region of Westphalia. Westphalia, the home of the name Kampa. In the German provinces, hereditary surnames were adopted after the 12th century, and names that were derived from localities became increasingly widespread. 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. However, in modern times, the preposition is frequently dropped from surnames of this type. The Kampa 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 Kampa familyThe surname Kampa 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 Kampa familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kampa 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 Kampa History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kampa 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 Kampa include Camp, Campe, Campen, Camper, Camperer, Campere, Campner, Kamp, Kampe and many more. Early Notables of the Kampa familyAnother 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kampa Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Kampa 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: 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..
| Historic Events for the Kampa family | + |
Bismarck - Horst Kampa (1922-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 1
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