Dear marknecamp,
Here are the results of my work so far. I would like to point out that
the following is mainly the fruit of reasoning and of using my
knowledge of the German language; I will also try to gather additional
information from surname dictionaries as soon as possible. For the
time being, here is my analysis:
I. The Origin of the Name NeCamp
It is my considered opinion that the name NeCamp derives from a group
of German/Dutch names composed of the respective terms for "new" and
"field".
In modern German, "new" translates as "neu". However, by the time when
today's surnames developed, there was neither a High German language
nor fixed rules for orthography. Instead, there were numerous local
dialects and sub-dialects. Few surnames were recorded in written form
then, and the spelling of the few names written down could vary
immensely, depending on the regional dialect, the individual spelling
habits of the writer or simply on arbitrary diction. Most names,
however, were bequeathed orally only and thus subject to permanent
change over centuries. And the same is true for all words of the
German language in the Middle Ages.
What is "neu" today could back then appear as "new", "nieuw", "nie",
"ny", "niu", and many other forms when written.
The "-camp" part is without doubt referring to an older German word
for field, "Kamp", which is related to the English "camp". The common
root of the German and the English word is the Latin "campus" meaning
"field". Still today, there are countless field names in Germany
including the word "Kamp", thus referring to former or still existing
acres and fields.
The combination of those two elements, "neu" + "Kamp", is the basic
original meaning behind the name "NeCamp" - "New Field".
II. The Meaning of the Name NeCamp
Family names were originally usually derived from the specific
individual attributes of a family or its most important members. Very
often, the profession of the head of the family became the basis for
the surname. But other criteria could also become family names, such
as striking physical features, nicknames or the location where a
family dwelled. The "New Field" of the NeCamps' early ancestors could
have various origins, some of which are:
- they lived near a new field or a place of that name
- they cultivated a new field
- they owned a new field
The exact original background can't be traced from the name alone; but
the connection to a locality is apparent.
III. Possible original Forms of the Name
As I already mentioned, spellings of all German words including names
varied over the centuries. In this case, the "-kamp" is quite
constant, with "-camp" being almost the only variant. The first part,
meaning "new", has many more versions. As a result, the name could
appear as Neukamp, Neucamp, Neekamp, Niekamp, Niecamp, Neikamp,
Neicamp, Nykamp, Nycamp, Neuenkamp, Neuencamp, Nieuwkamp, Nieuwekamp,
Newkamp, Nijekamp, Nijenkamp or Nijkamp. More spelling variants are
possible. There are also variants in other European countries with
Germanic languages, such as "Nikamp" in Denmark.
IV. Geographical Area
The surnames based on the "New Field" pattern were and still are very
common in the entire German-Dutch language area. It is obvious that,
due to a derivation that was possible almost everywhere, the name
developed independently in the different regions where German
languages were spoken in the Middle Ages. Still today, the modern
variants of the name are so prevalent in Germany that the online
telephone directory refuses a complete nationwide listing of
subscribers of those names because their number is too big. Just like
by far not all Millers or Smiths in English-speaking countries belong
to the same family or even have common ancestral roots, most of the
countless Neukamps, Niekamps, Neikamps etc. do not share common
ancestors.
V. The American spelling "NeCamp"
The earliest case of a person with the surname "NeCamp" (or Necamp) I
could find was one Grace Necamp. She was born 20 February 1800 in
Yankeetown, Knox County, Indiana, married one Larry F. McEntire, and
died 21 March 1923 in Knox County. The names of her parents were not
listed. Before that date, I could not find any traces of NeCamps in
North America. This does, of course, not mean that they did not exist.
Rather, their name was still spelled differently then, most likely
"Niekamp" or "Neikamp". One must even take into account that those
people themselves were illiterate and did not know how to spell their
surname. One of many possible scenarios is that they were asked for
their names by a Census clerk, who wrote down what he heard - and to
him, the German name sounded like "Necamp". Other surnames experienced
similar fates, for example "Schneider" often became "Snyder". The
capital C in NeCamp may have developed later, maybe for purely
aesthetical reasons.
Again, it is possible that several Niekamp and Neikamp families had
their names adjusted to English spelling in this or any other way. The
capital C, however, seems to be a unique feature of a particular
family. If one could manage to find the person who first used that
interesting spelling for his surname, one might be able tp trace the
family and the origins. But that is a thing impossible to do online.
VI. NeCamps in Germany?
The surname NeCamp or Necamp does not exist in Germany or the
neighbouring countries; this is additional evidence for the
implication that this particular variant of the name developed in
America. There are isolated records for a woman named Hanne Friederike
Nekamp (born 30 March 1817) who lived in Schildesche, Westphalia.
However, this is likely to be a mistake - there is a very old Niekamp
family, dating back to the mid-16th century, in Schildesche, but no
other Nekamps are mentioned anywhere for that place.
However, the spelling "Neekamp" does exist in North Germany and parts
of Holland; so it is possible that the NeCamps derive from immigrants
of the name Neekamp. This is also the spelling closest to the American
NeCamp version.
Some of the additional sources used for research so far:
FamilySearch Genealogy Database
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp
RootsWeb WorldConnect Genealogy Database
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi
Niekamp Family Genealogy Page (in German)
http://www.familie-niekamp.de/index.html
The Mail Archive: Heiko Ahlers, "Re:Niekamp". Online posting, 10 Jan 2000
http://www.mail-archive.com/oldenburg-l@genealogy.net/msg00185.html
I hope that this already provided some insight in the background of
the surname NeCamp. As soon as I find out more, I will add it.
Best regards,
Scriptor |
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