DEMPSEY
Dempsey is a surname of distinctly Gaelic Irish origin, derivable from the patronymic Ó Díomasaigh, which translates literally as “descendant of Diomasach.” The personal name Diomasach is believed to stem from the Gaelic word diomas, meaning “proud” or “arrogant”; consequently the surname was originally a descriptive epithet for an ancestor noted for these qualities.
Although the name is principally Irish, records show that it was in use in England from at least the early sixteenth century. One of the earliest English instances is that of James Dempse, who appears in Guild of Corpus Christi rolls for York in 1526. Some scholars have proposed that English bearers of the name derived it from a now‑lost medieval settlement called Demsey, the name of which has been conjectured to mean “the island on the lake.” This hypothesis remains unproven, and the Anglo‑English Dempseys are generally regarded as a distinct lineage from the Gaelic O’Dempsey clan.
The Irish O’-Dempsey clan was once a dominant force within what is now the modern counties of Laois and Offaly. Their estates in the region known as Clanmalier were extensive, and several members were elevated to the peerage: the first Viscount Clanmalier, Terence O’Dempsey, received his title from the first King of England and first King of Scotland in recognition of the clan’s loyalty during the rebellions of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The clan’s martial reputation is exemplified by a chief who is said to have opposed the landing of Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, in 1170, and to have been the only Irish commander to secure a victory in that engagement. By the early seventeenth century the clan had been solidly aligned with the English Crown; however, their continued support of the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 ultimately led to the loss of all their lands.
Early documentary evidence of the surname includes Lewis O’Dempsey, recorded in Dublin in 1652, and Thomas Dempsey, who was married at St Anne’s Church, Westminster, in 1692. The earliest known spelling that is widely accepted is that of Dermot O’Dempsey, dated 1193; he is traditionally regarded as the founding ancestor of Monasterevan Abbey. These records confirm the surname’s long presence in both Ireland and England and underscore its deep roots in medieval clerical and civic life.
Typical given names associated with the Dempsey surname
Male
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Anne
- Christine
- Deborah
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Dempsey in...
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There are approximately 8,561 people named Dempsey in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,107th most common surname in Britain. Around 131 in a million people in Britain are named Dempsey.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Dempsey
- Patrick Dempsey - American actor
- Michael Dempsey - Bassist, songwriter
- Miles Dempsey - Army officer (1896 to 1969)
- Jack Dempsey - American boxer (1895 to 1983)
- Mark Dempsey - Football coach
- Kyle Dempsey - Football player
- Paul Dempsey - Sports broadcaster
- Nick Dempsey - Sailor
- Ben Dempsey - Football player
- Jim Dempsey - Scottish football player
- John Dempsey - Irish football player and manager
- Charlie Dempsey - New Zealand football administrator (1921 to 2008)
- John Dempsey - Football player
- Bill Dempsey - (1896 to 1967)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.