Show ContentsCamper History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Camper is a local name from the German region of Westphalia. Local names and other types of hereditary surnames began to be used in Germany after the 12th century. They were derived from the name of the place where the original bearer of the name lived. Sometimes local names bear the prefix "von", meaning "of" or "from". This was originally an indication of land-ownership, and was sometimes a mark of aristocracy. The 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 Camper family

The surname Camper 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 Camper family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Camper 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 Camper History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Camper Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Camper include Camp, Campe, Campen, Camper, Camperer, Campere, Campner, Kamp, Kampe and many more.

Early Notables of the Camper family

Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Camper Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Camper Ranking

In the United States, the name Camper is the 7,426th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [1]


United States Camper migration to the United States +

After 1650, thousands of German settlers came to North America to escape the religious persecution and poverty that wracked Europe and to make the most of the opportunity to own their own land in a new country. They settled across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, and in Canada in Ontario and on the fertile plains of the prairie provinces. Among them:

Camper Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Alice Catherine Camper, who arrived in Virginia in 1729 [2]
  • John Camper, who landed in Virginia in 1729 [2]
  • Wilpert Camper, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1763 [2]

Contemporary Notables of the name Camper (post 1700) +

  • Jennifer Camper, American cartoonist and graphic artist whose work is inspired by her own experiences
  • Karen D. Camper (b. 1958), American politician, Minority Leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives (2019-)
  • Franklin J. Camper (b. 1946), American veteran, known mercenary, educator, and writer
  • Carter James Camper (b. 1988), American professional ice hockey forward from Rocky River, Ohio
  • Susie M. Camper, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 2008 [3]
  • John E. T. Camper, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Maryland 4th District, 1948 [3]
  • Harry Green Camper Jr. (b. 1924), American politician, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, 1961-64 [3]
  • Frank S. Camper, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Texas 7th District, 1922 [3]
  • Petrus Camper (1722-1789), Dutch anatomist, physiologist, midwife, zoologist, anthropologist, palaeontologist and a naturalist


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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