This surname is derived from an occupation or offical title. 'the kemp,' a knight, a soldier, a champion.

'Then it is time for mee to speake, Of Kern Knightes and Kempes greate.': Guy and Colbrand.

'Here is Kempis full Kene to the Kyng for to care': York Mystery Plays.

Alan Kempe, Suffolk, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

William Kemp, Oxfordshire. ibid.

Ricardus Kempe, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Johannes Kempe, 1379: ibid.

1775. Married — John Dixon and Ann Kempe: St. George, Hanover Square.

(1) Nick, 'the kemp's son'; v. Kemp; compare Wrightson, Smithson, Hindson, &c. (a) Local, 'of Kempston,' parishes in Bedfordshire and Norfolk. The suffix -ston frequently became son; compare Kelson for Kelston.

Richard Kemson, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

1661-2. Nicholas Kempsone and Hester Busby: Marriage Alleg. (Canterbury).

1683-4. Nicholas Kempston and Elizabeth Best: ibid.

1729. Married — William Lyley and Mary Kempson: St. George, Hanover Square.

This surname is usually explained as from ON. kempa, Old English cempa, ME. kempe, 'warrior, champion.' William Kemp, burgess of Edinburgh, 1423 (Egidii, p. 45). Donald Kemp, burgess of Dingwall, 1563 (RMS. IV, 1455), and William Kemp in Dingwall, 1613, a Macgregor resetter (RPC., XIV, p. 648). See Kempt.

1 (the) Kemp’s Son: v. Kemp.

2 for Kempston, q.v.

Jamieson's definition is-"1. A champion. Douglas. 2. Sometimes it includes the idea of strength and uncommon size. Bannatyne Poems. 3. The champion of a party in controversy. Winyet.-Anglo-Saxon cempa, miles; Suedo-Gothic kaempe, athleta; Danish, kempe, a giant; Islandic, miles robustus." In Scotland, the verb to kemp means to strive in whatever way, especially in the harvest-field; a kemper is a reaper who tries to outdo another in the amount of his labour; and such a contest is known as a kempin. In the Anglo-Saxon translation of the Gospels made about the year 1000, the word which in the Vulgate is miles, and in our version "soldier," is rendered cempa. Kempes, kemperye-men are words employed for fighting men, in the ballad of King Estmere in Percy's Reliques. Hence it appears that Kemp and Campion are closely allied, if not identical.

The son of a Kemp. See Kemp. This is one of the few surnames in which "son" is affixed to names of occupation, profession, or dignity. Smithson, Wrightson, Clarkson, and Dukeson are other examples.

A soldier.

In old English, a soldier, one who engaged in single combat. The name Kemp is derived from the Saxon word to kemp, or combat, which in Norfolk is retained to this day; a foot—ball match being called a camping or kemping; and thus in Saxon a Kemper signifies a combatant, a champion, a man—at—arms. In some parts of Scotland the striving of reapers in the harvest—field is still called kemping.

From Kempston; a location name in Bedfordshire.

Kemp is a name for the most part confined to the eastern coast counties of England, especially those of Lincoln, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, and Sussex. It was well represented as Kempe in the same part of England, particularly in Norfolk and Suffolk, in the 13th century (H. R.). It has secondary and less important homes in the south - western counties and in Cheshire.