Surname Scharfenkamp - Meaning and Origin
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Scharfenkamp: What does the surname Scharfenkamp mean?
The surname Scharfenkamp is a habitational or topographic name for someone who originally lived or worked at a place named after a steep mountain, from the German word “Scharfe” meaning steep and “Kamp” meaning field or enclosed place. It is likely that this surname originated as a name for people who were the first settlers or proprietors of that particular location. The place-name may have been derived from a place or field which was abundant in sharp rocks or stony cliffs, similar to that of a mountain slope.
The Scharfenkamp surname traces its roots back to the early 13th century, first emerging in the mediaeval period of European history. It was first commonly found in areas of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Many of those with the Scharfenkamp surname spread throughout Germany and other parts of Europe during the great European migration and settlement patterns of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.
A number of German immigrants with the Scharfenkamp surname eventually made their way to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, settling mainly in the Midwest and the Northeast. As of 2014, the Scharfenkamp surname was ranked number one thousand eleven out of ninety-one thousand, three hundred total family names.
In summary, Scharfenkamp is a habitational and topographic German surname meaning “steep mountain”. It was commonly found in central Europe prior to the late 19th century, when it spread to America.
Order DNA origin analysisScharfenkamp: Where does the name Scharfenkamp come from?
The surname Scharfenkamp appears to be most common today in Germany. This is likely because the original family with this name immigrated to Germany sometime in the 19th century after leaving its origin in England.
Records from an English census in 1881 showed a high proportion of Scharfenkamp families living in the counties of Lincolnshire and Derbyshire. Since then, the surname appears to have made its way westward into modern-day Germany.
For example, in a popular genealogical database, there were over 430 results with this surname listed. Of those results, the majority list locations and cities in Germany. This suggests that a large proportion of people sharing this surname currently live in Germany.
Furthermore, in a 2002 analysis of German surnames, the name 'Scharfenkamp' ranked 14,651 out of 88,799 in the entire country. This suggests that the name is reasonably common in Germany today.
In conclusion, the surname Scharfenkamp appears to have left England in the 19th century and arrived in Germany. Now, it appears to be one of the more common surnames in the country with a sizable population of families sharing this name.
Variations of the surname Scharfenkamp
The surname Scharfenkamp can vary in spelling and in origin depending on the language and the region. Some common variations of the spelling include Scharfenkam, Schaerfkamp, Scharffenkamp, Scharffenkam, Scaerfkamp, and Scharffkamp. In some parts of Germany, the spelling variation "Kampe" is commonly used.
The surname originates from the German word "scharf", meaning sharp, and "Kamp", which is a type of enclosed area. Many variations of the name incorporate this meaning with varying spellings and endings.
In some regions, the name has been changed or altered with time. In the Netherlands, some variations are Scharrepancyk and Scaerenceffky. In some regions of Prussia, the name is Schneidkamp, meaning sharpened field. In Austria, the common version is Schnaifkamp, meaning stingy field.
The surname can also have other variations due to the common practice of dropping letters from surnames. For example, Scharffenkam may appear as "Scharfkamp" or "Scarfkamp". Variations can also occur from one region to the next, such as Scharfenkamp in Bavaria and Scharfenkam in Brandenburg.
The surname can also be a patronymic surname - when a name is derived from the father's first name - and take on the suffix -en or -s. Examples of this are Scharfenkamps and Scharffenkams. Similarly, the suffix -er is common, creating Scharffenkamers and Scharffenkammers.
No matter the region or the variation, the name Scharfenkamp is a testament to German ancestry and can be traced back hundreds of years.
Famous people with the name Scharfenkamp
- Kathryn Scharfenkamp: Nurse from Tennessee who was known for her dedication to her patients.
- Max Scharfenkamp: A German journalist and author who wrote several books on various topics such as politics, culture, and philosophy.
- Tom Scharfenkamp: An American former NFL running back who played for the San Diego Chargers and the Houston Oilers.
- Pia Scharfenkamp: A Danish actress who has appeared in several films, TV series, and stage productions.
- Jack Scharfenkamp: An American retired basketball player who played college basketball for the University of Notre Dame.
- Derek Scharfenkamp: An English former cricketer who played for Lancashire in the first-class cricket competition.
- Tim Scharfenkamp: An American former professional baseball player who played in the major leagues in the 1980s.
- Mike Scharfenkamp: A Canadian curler, who won the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship in 2004 and the Canadian Senior Curling Championships in 2007.
- Alex Scharfenkamp: German Olympic athlete who competed in the men's high jump in 1992.
- Markus Scharfenkamp: German film director, producer, and actor who won an Academy Award in 2017 for Best Animated Short Film.