> Von: Donna Kjendlie <kjendlie@bootheel.net> > I looked in the Deutsches Namenlexikon - dictionary of German names > and did not find it. That doesn't mean it is not German tho. > Donna Donna, this book is not exhaustive. That means, it doesn't contain every German surname. It's not a Bible for onomasticians. There are many different books like this one, and each of these authors often has a different opinion. Onomastics or onomastology, which is the science of the history of names, is full of theories. Not every name's origin is absolutely sure, especially those surnames which are of Germanic or Pre-Germanic origin. Just a little minority of surnames, those which derive from professions, occupations, town names and first names are clear. Mostly. You not even will find my surname in this book, but I am German. All of my ancestors are of German origin. You'll find Semper and Semperl - but no Sempert. Best regards, Johannes Sempert