Kemp is an English surname and given name of Old English origin, derived from the word 'cume', meaning 'chamber'. It was historically used as a nickname for someone who lived in a prominent chamber or apartment within a household. In some instances, Kemp may also have been an occupational name for a chamberlain or steward. The name has been traditionally passed down through generations and is now considered both a surname and a given name.
The name Kemp experienced varied popularity over the years, with a significant decline from the mid-1960s onwards. Between 1898 and 1954, there were consistently more than ten births per year, peaking at 23 in 1955. However, from 1965 to 2004, there were fewer than ten births annually on average, with only a handful of years exceeding this threshold. Since then, the name has become quite rare, with five or fewer births per year recorded every year until 2023, when it rebounded to thirteen births. In total, there have been 1271 births named Kemp over the period studied.