This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Kemper family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Kemper Family History

Kemper Surname Meaning

German: status name denoting a peasant farmer or serf, an agent noun derivative of Kamp. North German: occupational name for an official calibrator who marked the correct weight and measures for verification from Middle Low German kempen.

German and possibly also Dutch: habitational name for someone from any of the twelve places called Kempen in the Dutch-German border area.

Dutch: agent noun derivative of Kemp.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kemper family from?

You can see how Kemper families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kemper family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kemper families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 11 Kemper families living in Lancashire. This was about 69% of all the recorded Kemper's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Kemper families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kemper surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Kemper ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Kemper. 90% of Kemper women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Kemper | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    90%
  • None
    10%

What Kemper family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 45,000 census records available for the last name Kemper. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kemper census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kemper

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Kemper. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kemper immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 13,000 military records available for the last name Kemper. For the veterans among your Kemper ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kemper military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kemper family history

Discover More

What is the average Kemper lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Kemper life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Kemper in 1944 was 52, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kemper

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kemper ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Kemper family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial