Find out how popular the last name Kem is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kem.

Kem, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Kem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kem in America

Kem is the 30250th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kem surname appeared 774 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kem.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kem to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kem

The surname "Kem" has its origins traced back to the Old English and Anglo-Saxon periods, deriving from the Old English word "cempa," which means "warrior" or "soldier." This name was initially given as a nickname to individuals who displayed bravery and strength in battle.

The earliest recorded instance of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Kemmit" or "Kemmet." This suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066 and was likely adopted by some of the Norman settlers.

During the Middle Ages, the name spread across various regions of England, particularly in areas such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. Variations in spelling emerged, including "Kempe," "Kemp," and "Kempster," which were often associated with specific localities or regions.

One notable individual bearing this surname was John Kemp (c. 1380-1454), an English Cardinal and Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of King Henry VI. He played a significant role in the resolution of the Hundred Years' War with France and was a prominent figure in the Wars of the Roses.

Another historically significant figure was William Kemp (c. 1560-1619), an English actor and dancer who was renowned for his skills as a comic performer. He is best known for his remarkable feat of morris dancing from London to Norwich in 1599, a journey of over 100 miles.

In the 17th century, Nicholas Kempe (1599-1677) was a prominent English lawyer and politician who served as Speaker of the House of Commons during the English Civil War period.

The name also found its way to the American colonies, with one of the earliest recorded instances being Thomas Kemp, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and became a prominent landowner and planter.

In the 19th century, Jacqueline Kempe (1823-1909), born in France, gained recognition as a renowned painter and sculptor, known for her vibrant portraits and decorative works.

Throughout its history, the surname "Kem" has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including warriors, politicians, artists, and pioneers, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kem

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kem.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kem was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kem has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Kem was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kem, please contact us.

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