n the research of the ancestors of our children Alexander and Lukas it became
apparent, that the name Bentkamp/Bentkämper is probably unique and that all people bearing this name can be traced back
to sources in the Senne area near Bielefeld.
owever it is not a unique family. A common source of the so-called Cord-Bentkamps
and the Bentkempers from the farm Senne Nr. 27 cannot be proved. (though the names “Bentkamp” and “Bentkemper” are mixed up in the
early church registers). Furthermore there are two so-called disruptions in the line of ancestors. In early centuries it was common to perpetuate the farm's name. A widow Bentkamp, who married again before she had children with a Bentkamp, retained the farm's name. Her second husband also assumed the name Bentkamp and the children of such a couple continued the line Bentkamp without being related to the farm's previous owners.
evertheless it seemed exciting to me to list these Bentkamps and Bentkämpers,
who all derive from the Senne area. (One main family tree and two ancillary lines). It was especially interesting to follow the
trail of the immigrants to America (August Bentkamp 1902 und Heinrich Bentkamp 1923).
his work isn't complete at all and I would be very grateful for additions and corrections.