Hello List Members,
How interesting! This is my first experience with this situation.
Thank you for all of your insight!
I will share this name change from Germany to USA issue with our local
Germanic genealogy research group.
Maybe it will help someone else.
So, since the words "auf den" and "auf dem" were important enough to
the immigrants not to drop it, they must be an important part of the
name in Germany.
Since I wrote the first message, I did come across "auf dem Kampe."
"Auf dem Kampe" (page 575) is listed as one of "Die Kottereien" (ö,
umlaut over the 'o') under the "Bauerschaft Osterdamme" in the
"Gemeinde Damme" in the "Stadtgemeinde Vechta" in the book, "Die
Bauernhofe (ö, umlaut over the 'o') im Amte Vechta" by Dr. Pagenstert.
Now, the book can be found on Google Books at
[1]Google Books
Type 'Pagenstert' in the search box. This book will be in the results.
From the one page about Auf dem Kampe, with my very limited knowledge
of German, it does not look like I can further the line, but it might
be interesting information.
This particular family is not one of my immigrant ancestors
So, based on your advice & the book, I'll use "auf dem Kampe" as the
surname until advised otherwise.
Thank you very much!
Marilyn Ruhe Wethington
(o with umlaut = <alt> plus 0246)
References
1. Google Books