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

VanKempen, 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 VanKempen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of VanKempen in America

VanKempen is the 56836th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The VanKempen surname appeared 359 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 VanKempen.

We can also compare 2010 data for VanKempen 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 VanKempen

The surname VANKEMPEN originated in the Netherlands during the medieval period. It is a locational surname derived from the Dutch words "van" meaning "from" and "Kempen" referring to the Campine region in the northern provinces of Belgium and the southeastern part of the Netherlands.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, with variations such as Van Kempen, Van de Kempen, and Vanden Kempen appearing in historical records from the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg. These spellings suggest that the name was initially associated with individuals who hailed from or resided in the Kempen area.

One of the earliest known bearers of the VANKEMPEN surname was Hendrik Van Kempen, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Hertogenbosch in the late 14th century. Historical records from the city archives mention his involvement in local government affairs and trade activities during the reign of Duchess Johanna of Brabant (1322-1406).

In the 15th century, the VANKEMPEN name gained recognition through the works of Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471), a renowned Augustinian monk and writer from the town of Kempen in North Brabant. His influential spiritual treatise, "The Imitation of Christ," is considered one of the most widely read Christian devotional works of all time.

Another noteworthy figure with the VANKEMPEN surname was Pieter van Kempen (1505-1559), a Dutch Renaissance painter and stained-glass artist. His works adorned various churches and public buildings in the Low Countries, showcasing his skill in portraiture and religious scenes.

During the 16th century, the VANKEMPEN name appeared in records related to the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. Jan van Kempen (1542-1607) was a prominent military commander who fought alongside William the Silent, the leader of the Dutch resistance against the Spanish Empire.

In the 18th century, Jacobus van Kempen (1713-1787) was a renowned Dutch botanist and author who made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy and the classification of plants native to the Netherlands and its colonies.

As the VANKEMPEN surname spread beyond the Netherlands, it took on various spellings and variations, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences of different regions. However, its roots can be traced back to the Kempen region of the Low Countries and the rich history associated with this locational surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name VanKempen

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

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 VanKempen 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 VanKempen 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 VanKempen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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