Show ContentsKempfer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Kempfer name is derived from the Middle High German word "kampf," meaning "fight;" thus it may have originally been an occupational name for a successful fighter; or perhaps a nickname for someone known to lose his temper.

Early Origins of the Kempfer family

The surname Kempfer was first found in the Rhineland, where this family was a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always influential in social affairs, the family became an integral part of that turbulent region as it forged alliances with other families within the region and the nation.

Early History of the Kempfer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kempfer research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1651 and 1716 are included under the topic Early Kempfer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kempfer Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kempfer, Kempner, Klemptner, Klempfer, Klimpfer, Klimptner, Klentner, Klintner, Klenptfer, Klenptner, Kimpner and many more.

Early Notables of the Kempfer family

Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kempfer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Kempfer migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kempfer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Heinrich and Anna Kempfer, and their four children who settled in Philadelphia in 1753
Kempfer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Gerhard H Kempfer, who arrived in Iowa in 1848 [1]
  • John Kempfer, who landed in Iowa in 1848 [1]
  • Aug. ... Kempfer, aged 34, who landed in America from Colnen, in 1893
  • Cath. Kempfer, aged 26, who settled in America from Coln, in 1893
Kempfer Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • William Kempfer, aged 48, who landed in America from Stettin, in 1900
  • Julia Kempfer, aged 35, who immigrated to the United States from Resten, in 1901
  • Franz Kempfer, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from Nagy Zsam, Hungary, in 1906
  • Fritz Kempfer, aged 22, who settled in America from Hamburg, Germany, in 1914
  • Franciska Kempfer, aged 47, who landed in America from Kaisers Lautern, Germany, in 1922
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Kempfer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kempfer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Friedrich Ludw Kempfer, who arrived in Quebec in 1776

Contemporary Notables of the name Kempfer (post 1700) +

  • Hannah Jensen Kempfer (1880-1943), Minnesota schoolteacher, farmer and politician
  • Kelvin T Kempfer, American Associate Professor of Computer & Information Systems at Central Oregon Community College


  1. 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)


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