Igama elithi "a Kempis" libhekisela kumuntu ogama lakhe linguThomas a Kempis, owayeyindela yase-Dutch Augustinian nombhali phakathi nekhulu le-15. Waziwa kakhulu ngencwadi yakhe yokuzinikela ethi “Ukulingisa UKristu” osekungamakhulu eminyaka ifundwa futhi ihlonishwa ngamaKrestu. Igama elithi "a Kempis" lisuselwa egameni lesiLatini elithi "campus" elisho "insimu", futhi cishe lalibhekisela endaweni lapho uThomas a Kempis azalelwa khona noma ayehlala khona.