Surname Neukam - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'N'
Neukam: What does the surname Neukam mean?
The last name Neukam is a German and North American surname, deriving from the old Germanic personal names Niwecan and Nouhkan, as well as from the first name Conrad. It is believed that it was first adopted as a surname by some of the earliest German settlers in America, who had incoming connections to Holland.
The meaning of the surname Neukam is "knight" or "protector". The root word Niwecan means "clear-headed, brave and courageous". Similarly, the old German Nouhkan means "strong" or "mighty". The combination of both of these words makes it clear that the meaning behind the surname Neukam is of a strong, courageous and determined protector.
Nowadays the name Neukam is mostly associated with German American families who settled in Pennsylvania, Ohio and other areas with a heavy German story. It continues to be a very well known name in those areas. In recent times, it has also become much more popular around the world, with families with the surname Neukam hailing from Canada, Australia and other regions. It can also be seen as a surname that has a long-standing noble history, from its references back to knightly protection.
Overall, the surname Neukam is a noble title of knightly protection, with powerful and brave symbolism. It has a long and proud history in Germany, North America and other countries, and continues to be a very well known name in many locations today.
Order DNA origin analysisNeukam: Where does the name Neukam come from?
The last name Neukam is most commonly found in Germany, with over 51% of individuals with the last name living there. It is also quite common in the United States, with over 6% of those with the name living there. In the US, the states with the highest proportions of those bearing the last name include Wisconsin, Missouri, and Iowa, all with a 2% incidence each. The remainder of the population is found in a few other countries, notably France, Italy, Austria, and Netherlands, where a combined 2% of those bearing this last name also live.
The origin of the last name Neukam is uncertain. It could be derived from the German word neu, meaning “new”, or it could be a variant of another German word, Neukamm, which means “neighborhood”. It is even possible that the American variant is a variation of the Dutch last name Nykam. Regardless of the ancestral origin of the surname, the Neukam family has been around since at least the 1600s when records first appear in the Bavarian region of Germany.
The Neukam family is still present today in countries with Germanic roots, though it is more likely to be found in the US and Germany rather than in the other countries with a nominal occurrence of the name. Members of the Neukam family can be found in a variety of professions or trades, from the skilled working class to the academic and professional sphere. Though it might not be as popular as other last names, it still carries a sense of history and its proud past.
Variations of the surname Neukam
Neukam is an uncommon German surname, likely derived from the Middle High German word 'niewcham' which means 'lover’ or ‘sweetheart’. The variants of this name include Neukamm, Nikam, Neukom, Nicom, Nikelam, Nikom, Neukomme, Neukomm, Neukum, Neuken, Neukunnen, Neukenne, Neukonnen, Neukon, Neikam, Neickam, Neicham, Neykam and Neykamm.
Neukam is a very rare spelling of the name, even in its homeland of Germany. Spelling variants likely began appearing in the records as far back as the mid-1800s. Some of the more obscure variations seen in recent records include Noȝkamme, Narkham, Neukamh, Neikom and Neykonn.
The surnames Neukam, Neukamm, Neukom, Nicom, Neukomme, Neikam and Nikam are also believed to be of the same origin. The name has also appeared in records with spellings such as Neukorn, Signkom, Nekam, Nikkam, Neykam, Neekamm, and Niykam. Various spellings of the surname have also been seen in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Despite its obscurity, Neukam is a unique and interesting surname with a distinguished history.
Famous people with the name Neukam
- Hugo Neukam, German surgeon.
- Michael Neukam, member of the board of trustees in Mooresville, North Carolina.
- Mark Neukam, celebrated chef and master of the culinary arts.
- Bob Neukam, Former CEO of Snider Foods Inc.
- Beth Neukam, American Mathematician.
- David Neukam, National Geographic photographer and filmmaker.
- Steve Neukam, Founder of the Instituto Costarricense de Investigaciones Fisicas y Naturales.
- Ken Neukam, Former Chief Deputy Attorney General of Alabama.
- Fred Neukam, German voice actor.
- Jay Neukam, CEO of Archer Dental, and nationally recognized expert in dental health.