Surname Van Campen - Meaning and Origin

Van Campen: What does the surname Van Campen mean?

The surname "Van Campen" is of Dutch origin, denoting geographical or topographical ancestry. The prefix "Van" in Dutch typically means "from" and is used to indicate a place of origin. "Campen" may refer to the town of Kampen in the Netherlands, suggesting that the family may have originated or hailed from there. Therefore, "Van Campen" essentially means "from Kampen". In terms of topography, "Campen" could also derive from "kamp", a Dutch term for field or camp. This implies that the ancestors of the Van Campen family might have lived near or owned a field or camp. It's worth noting that surnames were not originally inherent and could relate to one’s occupation, parent’s names, geographical locations or even physical attributes. The precise historical meaning of the surname can often be challenging to determine due to these factors and the evolution of language over time. Hence, "Van Campen" might have different interpretations in different contexts. But primarily, it signifies a geographic ancestral lineage from the Dutch town of Kampen or an association with a field or camp.

Van Campen: Where does the name Van Campen come from?

The last name Van Campen is most likely of Dutch origin and is most common today in the Netherlands. It may also be found in countries with strong Dutch influences such as South Africa, Australia, Canada and the USA.

In the Netherlands, Van Campen is one of the most common last names, appearing in the top 150 list of most frequent names. In South Africa, the name is also prevalent in certain areas such as Limpopo, Eastern Cape and Gauteng.

In Australia, over 600 people with the name Van Campen are recorded as living there, while in the USA, the name is found in California, Oregon, Michigan and New York. Finally, in Canada, the provinces of Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia have the highest concentration of people with the Van Campen name.

In conclusion, people with the last name Van Campen can be found around the world, however, the places with the highest concentrations are the Netherlands, South Africa, Australia, USA and Canada.

Variations of the surname Van Campen

Van Campen is a Dutch surname. Common variants and spellings of the name include Van Kampen, Van Kampeen, Van Camp and Van Campe. Van Kampen and Van Kampeen are often spelled with an ‘i’ rather than an ‘e’ but they both refer to the same family name.

The Van Campen surname is derived from a Dutch word that means ‘Camp’. The surname is likely derived from a familial origin that gives reference to a family that owned or lived in a space at a camp near a Dutch town. It could have also been taken from a place name in Dutch of an area near a camp or meadow.

The Van Campen name was taken to the United States, with many bearers of the surname living in the Midwest, especially Iowa and Minnesota.

Common surnames with the same origin as Van Campen include Van Kamper, Van Camp, and Vancampen. Other surnames with similar origins include Van Gelder, VanKamp, and Van Kampen.

Overall, the most common variants and spellings of the Van Campen surname are Van Kampen and Van Kampeen. The origin of the surname is likely derived from a familial connection to a camp or meadow in the Netherlands, and the name is particularly common in the Midwest United States. Other surnames sharing similar origins include Van Kamper, VanCamp, Van Gelder, VanKamp, and Vancampen.

Famous people with the name Van Campen

• Abraham van Campen: Dutch Golden Age architect, painter, and poet
• Carel van Campen: Dutch politician who was part of the Estates of Overijssel
• Anne van Campen: Belgian Franciscan nun and saint
• Jacques van Campen: Dutch Golden Age painter
• Willem van Campen: Dutch naval officer and explorer
• Grace VanCampen: American actress
• Lily VanCampen: American actress
• Carl van Campen: American cinematographer
• Modeste van Campen: Dutch painter
• Gordon Van Campen: American painter
• Jeffrey M. Van Campen: American author and professor
• Johannes Hubertus van Campen: Dutch chemist
• Sebastiaan van Campen: Dutch sculptor
• Frederik Willem Van Campen: Dutch business executive and former CEO of Heineken
• Nicholas van Campen: Dutch business executive and former president of Heineken USA
• Catherine van Campen: Dutch professional cyclist
• Charles van Campen: Dutch fencer
• J.J. van Campen: Dutch football player
• Jacky van Campen: Dutch rower and Olympic medalist
• J. Van Campen: Dutch chess master
• Antoine Cesar Becquerel van Campen: Dutch artist and designer
• Calli Van Campen: American animal-rights activist

Other surnames

Van Camp