Show ContentsKraemer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The German state of Bavaria is the ancestral home of the Kraemer family. Hereditary surnames began to be used in Germany during the 12th century. Kraemer is an occupational name for a shopkeeper or retail merchandiser. The name Kraemer is derived from the German word "kram," which means "tent" or "trading post."

Early Origins of the Kraemer family

The surname Kraemer was first found in Bavaria, where the name came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging medieval society. They later became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates, some in foreign countries, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society.

Early History of the Kraemer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kraemer research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1430, 1505, 1568, 1617, 1637, 1705, 1720, 1743, 1745, 1764, 1770, 1771, 1772, 1773, 1780, 1784, 1799, 1801, 1817, 1834 and 1848 are included under the topic Early Kraemer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kraemer Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Kraemer include Kramer, Kraemer, Kremer, Krammer, Kraemmer, Kraymer, Kraymmer, Cramer, Cremer, Crammer and many more.

Early Notables of the Kraemer family

Prominent among members of the name Kraemer in this period include Heinrich Kramer (c.1430-1505), German churchman and inquisitor; Ignaz Kramer, known popularly as the "Muenzmeister" (coin-master) of Kremnitz, who was ennobled in 1764 for 48 years of service in the mint and awarded the title "von Muenzburg." Daniel Cramer (Daniel Candidus) (1568-1637) was a German Lutheran theologian and writer, best remembered for his emblem book Emblemata Sacra (1617.)Cramer was a family of German musicians, of whom the head was Jacob Cramer, born at Sachau in Silesia 1705, flutist in the then celebrated band at Mannheim, where he died in 1770. Of...
Another 331 words (24 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kraemer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kraemer Ranking

In the United States, the name Kraemer is the 5,055th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Kraemer is ranked the 3,711st most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 2


United States Kraemer migration to the United States +

German settlers were among the most common to come to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. Poverty and religious persecution drove many Bavarians to make this long trek. tenant farmers were also enticed by the prospect of owning land. From east to west, these German immigrants populated the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada also provided homes to many. Early settlers bearing the Kraemer surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Kraemer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anna Maria Kraemer, who landed in New York, NY in 1709 3
  • Antonius Kraemer, who landed in New York, NY in 1709 3
  • Johann Wilhelm Kraemer, who arrived in New York, NY in 1709 3
  • Juliana Kraemer, who arrived in America in 1712 3
  • Cath Kraemer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1731 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Kraemer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Katharina Kraemer, who arrived in North America in 1800 3
  • Hend Kraemer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1803 3
  • Andreas Kraemer, aged 24, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 3
  • Peter Kraemer, aged 26, who landed in Brazil in 1846 3
  • Mr. Peter Kraemer, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Henry" with his wife and 5 children
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Kraemer migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Kraemer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Stephen Kraemer, aged 28, a tanner, who arrived in South Australia in 1848 aboard the ship "Victoria" 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Kraemer (post 1700) +

  • Fritz Gustav Anton Kraemer (1908-2003), German-American military educator and advisor
  • Elmer Otto Kraemer (1898-1943), American chemist
  • Joseph Wayne Kraemer (b. 1964), former American professional baseball pitcher
  • Augustin Kraemer (1865-1941), German naturalist and ethnographer
  • Adolf Kraemer (b. 1898), German chess master and problemist
  • SS-Brigadeführer Fritz Kraemer (1900-1959), German Waffen-SS and Heer officer
  • Franz Kraemer (1914-1999), Canadian radio producer
  • Jacob Kraemer, Canadian actor
  • Daniel Kraemer (1816-1882), the German first English-speaking pioneer to settle Placentia, California
  • Nicholas Kraemer (b. 1945), British harpsichordist and conductor
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Friedrich Kraemer (1920-1941), 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 5


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  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)
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) VICTORIA 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Victoria.htm
  5. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


Houseofnames.com on Facebook