Surname Kemler - Meaning and Origin
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Kemler: What does the surname Kemler mean?
The last name Kemler is thought to originate from the German word kämmer, meaning ‘steward’ or ‘manager of a palace or estate’. This suggests that the first Kemlers were likely high-status servants or administrators in the Middle Ages.
The earliest-known recorded use of the Kemler family name dates back to 1217, when Hermentiu de Kemeler was a steward in Upper Bavaria. In the following centuries, the Kemlers spread north and east across Germany, Poland, and Austria.
Today, the name Kemler remains popular predominantly in German-speaking countries. Records show that the surname is especially frequent in the southeastern German state of Bavaria, where many of the earliest Kemler families settled and expanded their homesteads.
In English, a patron "Kemler" can occasionally be encountered, though it is more often encountered as a truncated form, such as Kem or Kempler. This suggests that the original surname may have been Anglicized, and shortened, over the generations.
The last name Kemler still carries connotations of prestige and authority today, making it an apt surname for those who wish to project these qualities. The name carries a proud heritage and is one of the oldest surnames of German origin.
Order DNA origin analysisKemler: Where does the name Kemler come from?
The last name Kemler is most commonly found in Germany today. It is believed to come from the medieval city of Kemle which was located in the northern part of what is now Germany.
The original spelling is Kämler which is derived from the Low German word “kemle” meaning “field”. The first recorded person with this surname was Johannes Kämler, born in 1680 in the archbishopric of Cologne.
The name is mainly found in the northern German regions of Pomerania, Mecklenburg, and Brandenburg, where it is still one of the most common surnames today. It is also widely spread throughout Germany, Poland, Russia, and other European countries.
Outside Europe, the name is also found in South American countries such as Brazil and Argentina. It is also found in the United States, particularly states with large German populations such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Nebraska.
In general, the name is quite common and is becoming increasingly popular due to the increasing number of families with German origins moving abroad.
Variations of the surname Kemler
Kemler is a surname of German origin with several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most predominant variant of the surname is Kämler, which is a shortened version of the German term, “Kämmeleiter,” meaning “comb maker.” Other variants of Kemler include Kammer, Kämmerer, Kämmeleiter and Kämmeleiter.
Kammer is derived from the Middle High German word, “kamer”, meaning “room” and is a variant of Kemler used in Austria and the Czech Republic. Kämmerer is the German plural form of Kämmeleiter and the variant found in South Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Kämmeleiter and Kämmeleiter are plural forms of the German term for “comb maker.”
There are also several non-German variants of the surname Kemler. In Jewish culture, the name can be found as Keumel, which is derived from the Hebrew term “kemuir”, meaning “comb.” Other spellings of the surname include Kemeler, Kemper, Kumler and Kummeler.
In other languages, the surname Kemler can be spelled differently. In Dutch, the name can be spelled Kemelers and in French, Kemmèler or Kemelier. In Italian, the name is spelled Camale, Camole or Camiole. In Polish, the surname is spelled Kemler or Kämmerle.
In conclusion, the surname Kemler has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Kämmer, Kämmerer, Kämmeleiter, Kämmeleiter, Keumel, Kemeler, Kemper, Kumler, Kummeler, Kemelers, Kemmèler, Kemelier, Camale, Camole and Camiole. The variations in spelling depend on the language or culture in which the surname originated from.
Famous people with the name Kemler
- Deborah Kemler: Emmy Award-winning choreographer and artistic director of The Kemler Ensemble.
- Giselle Kemler: Venezuelan television presenter, producer, singer, model and social activist.
- Dov Halevi Kemler: Israeli director, producer and actor best known for the 2009 film “A Matter of Size”.
- Alejandro Kemler: Argentine actor and producer.
- Sandor Kemler: Hungarian international chess master who won multiple international and national tournaments.
- Gedaliahu Kemler: Israeli communal rabbi and author.
- Susan Kemler: American actress who appeared in films such as “Hangover III”.
- Inés Kemler: Argentine pianist, recording artist and composer.
- Fernando Kemler: Uruguayan businessperson, professor and economist.
- Will Kemler: Guitarist in the English heavy metal band Bullet for My Valentine.