One of the first lessons you have to learn when researching family history…don't get too attached to the way your surname is currently spelled! There are dozens of ways to spell most surnames and you will find variations everywhere on every continent. Since the USA is considered a great melting pot, a lot of people have arrived on these shores and they have shortened or modified their surnames to blend in with the more common American spellings, such as Camp instead of Kemp or De Camp.