Dempsy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Today's Irish surnames are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Dempsy originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Diomasaigh, from the word "diomasach," which means "proud." 1

Early Origins of the Dempsy family

The surname Dempsy was first found in King's County and Queen's County, where they were traditional Chiefs of Clanmaliere, a territory that lay on both sides of the river Barrow. It contained parts of Geashill and Phillipstown in Kings County and parts of Portnehinch in Queen's County. They claim descent through the O'Connors of Offaly, specifically the 2nd century Irish King, Cathair Mor. 2

According to O'Hart, they claim descent from through the "Connor" Faley pedigree.

Early History of the Dempsy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dempsy research. Another 286 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1193, 1599, 1631, 1641, 1652 and 1865 are included under the topic Early Dempsy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dempsy Spelling Variations

Those scribes in Ireland during the Middle Ages recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in this era many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Dempsy family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Dempsey, O'Dempsey, Dempsy, Dempsay, Dempsie and many more.

Early Notables of the Dempsy family

Notable among the family name at this time was Sir Terence O'Dempsey, knighted May 1599, by Robert Devereux, earl of Essex, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Terence was created "Baron of Philipstown," and Viscount Clanmaliere, by patent dated 8th July, 1631, temp. Charles I. He had five sons, two of which were clergy:...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dempsy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dempsy migration to the United States +

Thousands of Irish families left for North American shores in the 19th century. These people were searching for a life unencumbered with poverty, hunger, and racial discrimination. Many arrived to eventually find such conditions, but many others simply did not arrive: victims of the diseased, overcrowded ships in which they traveled to the New World. Those who lived to see North American shores were instrumental in the development of the growing nations of Canada and the United States. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Dempsy:

Dempsy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Joane Dempsy, who arrived in Maryland in 1679 3

Dempsy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Judy Dempsy, aged 19, who landed in Norfolk, Va in 1803 3
Mary Dempsy, aged 50, who arrived in Norfolk, Va in 1803 3
Thomas Dempsy, aged 18, who landed in Norfolk, Va in 1803 3
Catherine Dempsy, aged 16, who landed in Norfolk, Va in 1803 3
Edward Dempsy, aged 22, who arrived in Norfolk, Va in 1803 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dempsy (post 1700) +

James Dempsy, President of General Dynamics Corp. and many more

Historic Events for the Dempsy family +

Lady of the Lake

Mr. Patrick Dempsy (b. 1809), Irish labourer from Coleraine, Northern Ireland who sailed aboard the "Lady of the Lake" from Greenock, Scotland on 8th April 1833 to Quebec, Canada when the ship hit ice and sunk of the coast of Newfoundland on the 11th May 1833 and he died in the sinking

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)