Explore the Family Name Kemper
The meaning of Kemper
1. German: status name denoting a peasant farmer or serf, an agent noun derivative of Kamp 1. 2. North German: occupational name for an official calibrator who marked the correct weight and measures for verification, from Middle Low German kempen. 3. German and possibly also Dutch: habitational name for someone from any of the twelve places called Kempen in the Dutch-German border area. 4. Dutch: agent noun derivative of Kemp.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kemper in the United States?
The surname Kemper, based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, experienced a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. The rank of the surname fell from 3182 to 3401, a drop of 6.88%. However, the count of people with this surname actually rose slightly from 10,339 to 10,518, an increase of 1.73%. The proportion per 100,000 also dropped by 6.79%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,182 | #3,401 | -6.88% |
| Count | 10,339 | 10,518 | 1.73% |
| Proportion per 100k | 3.83 | 3.57 | -6.79% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kemper
In terms of ethnic identity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals some interesting trends. In 2000, a majority of Kempers were white (91.86%), but this number decreased to 89.45% by 2010, which is a change of -2.62%. The Hispanic population with this surname experienced the greatest increase, jumping from 1.28% to 2.19%, a 71.09% change. The Asian/Pacific Islander group saw a modest increase, while the percentage of those identifying as two or more races rose from 1.14% to 1.50%. The Black population increased from 5.03% to 5.95% over the decade. The American Indian and Alaskan Native group, though small, showed the biggest percentage change, increasing by 82.61%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.86% | 89.45% | -2.62% |
| Black | 5.03% | 5.95% | 18.29% |
| Hispanic | 1.28% | 2.19% | 71.09% |
| Two or More Races | 1.14% | 1.5% | 31.58% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.46% | 0.49% | 6.52% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.23% | 0.42% | 82.61% |
Kemper ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Kemper is British & Irish, which comprises 40.3% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (34.2%) and Eastern European (4.4%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Nigerian.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 40.3% |
| French & German | 34.2% |
| Eastern European | 4.4% |
| Other | 21.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Kemper
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Kemper have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 77.30% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 77.30% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 77.30% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 77.30% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 77.00% |
What Kemper haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Kemper is R-Z150, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z150 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-U152 and I-Z58, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Poirier, Denney, Waller, Holly, Steiner, Slaughter, Fay, Heim, Denny, Shoemaker.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Kemper surname are: H1, H3, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Kemper have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Kemper" Surname 32.5%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Kemper" Surname 21.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Kemper" Surname 18.5%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Kemper" Surname 16.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Kemper?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Kemper are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition