KEMP
Kemp is a surname of both English and Scottish provenance, first recorded within the British Isles. It appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, indicating a presence in England shortly after the Norman Conquest.
The name derives from the Middle English word kempe, which meant a champion or a skilled warrior. It was originally a descriptive nickname applied to an individual who displayed strength, bravery or proficiency in combat. In some early contexts the term also applied to a servant or champion of a knight, thereby associating the bearer with feudal service.
Earliest documented forms include the 902 entry of Eadulf Cempa in a list of Old English bynames for the county of Wiltshire, during the reign of King Edward the Elder. Further attestations appear in the 11th‑to‑14th centuries: Edmund Kempe in Norfolk in 1099; Alan Kempe in the Hundred Rolls of Suffolk in 1273; Ralph le Kemp of Sussex in 1296; and Ricardus Kempe of Yorkshire in the Poll Tax rolls of 1379. Parish registers from Greater London give later examples such as Abiell Kemp, christened at St. Margaret’s Westminster on 14 December 1590, and the marriage of Mary Cempe to James Asskins at St. James Clerkenwell on 20 June 1667.
Over the centuries the surname has been recorded in several variants, including Cemp, Kemp, Kempe, Kemppe, Kempt and the patronymic form Kempson. The spread of these spellings is largely attributable to regional accents and dialectal differences, as well as variations in medieval orthography.
The association of the name with military achievement is reflected in its heraldic representation. The granted coat of arms for bearers of the surname features a red shield charged with three gold garbs and a gold border engrailed. The motto adopted by the family, Lucem spero, translates as “I hope for light.”
In contemporary times, individuals bearing the surname Kemp can be found across the globe, a testament to migration patterns originating from the British Isles. While spelling variations persist, the core identity of the surname continues to be recognised primarily as a marker of historical martial prowess and regional heritage.
Typical given names associated with the Kemp surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jane
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Kemp in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Kemp are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Shortbread.
There are approximately 28,694 people named Kemp in the UK. That makes it the 280th most common surname in Britain. Around 441 in a million people in Britain are named Kemp.
Surname type: Nickname
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Kemp
- Martin Kemp - Actor and musician, bassist for Spandau Ballet
- Gary Kemp - Actor and musician
- Ross Kemp - Actor, author and journalist
- Shirlie Kemp - Singer
- Will Kemp - Actor
- Lindsay Kemp - Mime (1938 to 2018)
- Martin Kemp - Art historian
- Rick Kemp - Musician
- Richard Kemp - Army officer
- Peter Kemp - Soldier and writer (1915 to 1993)
- Rose Kemp - Musician
- Dave Kemp - Football player and manager
- Steve Kemp - Musician
- Eric Kemp - Bishop of Chichester; Dean of Worcester (1915 to 2009)
- Fraser Kemp - Politician
- Sandra Kemp - Academic
- Harley Kemp - Darts player
- Percival Kemp - Cricketer (1888 to 1974)
- Trevor Kemp - Scottish football player (1997 to 2012)
- Charles Kemp - Cricketer (1864 to 1940)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.