| ![Show Contents]() Kem History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland The Scottish name Kem is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Shimidh, a patronymic name from the Gaelic meaning 'son of Simon' (Simmie), of old Mack Himy. 1 Turning back the clocks of time, we found Simon Fraser in 1570 gave this interesting note about the Simon: "A name pretty rare in Scotland, south or north, although kindly to this famely, being the first name it had, and hence the Lord Lovat is called M'Khimy." Early Origins of the Kem familyThe surname Kem was first found in Tweedale in Peebles-shire. They are said to descend from a Norman family from Anjou, in the Seigneurie of La Frezeliere, where their name was Frezell, they were one of the many Norman families invited north by King David of Scotland, and were granted lands at Keith in East Lothian in 1160. The first chief to settle was named Simon Frazer, and his lands were called Keith Simon. Their stronghold was Oliver Castle on the Tweed. The name is thought to have derived from Simon Fraser killed at Halidon Hill in 1333. By 1506, the family had achieved such notoriety that "King James IV granted in heritage to Ewin Makkymme the half of Lepinquhillin in Bute and to John Makkymmie the other half. These Makkymmes may have been the sons of Symon M'Watt who is in record in 1499." 1 Early History of the Kem familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kem research. Another 322 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1333, 1529, 1542, 1550, 1586, 1590, 1609, 1641, 1658, 1662, 1708, 1716 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kem History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kem Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: MacKimmie, Mackhimmie, MacShimmie, MacCammie, MacKymmie, MacKymmey, MacImmey, MacImmie, McKimmie, McShimmie, McCammie, McKynnie, McKymmey, McImmey and many more. Early Notables of the Kem familyMore information is included under the topic Early Kem Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Kem family to Ireland
Some of the Kem family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 84 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Kem migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Kem Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Johan Kem, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1852 2
| Contemporary Notables of the name Kem (post 1700) | + |
- Jeffrey Kem, American artist, known for his work in Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds (2001)
- Michael Kem, American actor, known for his role in Desperate Remedies (1992).
- Robert Kem, American actor, known for his role in About Schmidt (2002)
- Omer Madison Kem (1855-1942), American politician, Representative from Nebraska, 1891-97; Member of Colorado State House of Representatives, 1907 3
- James Preston Kem (1890-1965), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 1944, 1948; U.S. Senator from Missouri, 1947-53; Defeated, 1952 3
- Kem Ley (1970-2016), Cambodian political commentator and activist
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Je suis prest
Motto Translation: I am ready.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Kem migration to the United States 
