Dampere History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

When the ancestors of the Dampere family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. The family was originally from Dampiere and Orne, Normandy. 1 2

The House of Dampierre held a prestigious place in the history of the Middle Ages. Named after Dampierre, in the Champagne region, members of the family were the Count of Flanders, Count of Nevers, Counts and Dukes of Rethel, Count of Artois and Count of Franche-Comté. The progenitor of the family is thought to have been Guy I of Dampierre (died 1151), son of Thibaut of Dampierre-sur-l’Aube and Elizabeth of Montlhéry.William I of Dampierre (died after 1173), Seigneur of Dampierre, Saint-Dizier, and Moëlain.

Early Origins of the Dampere family

The surname Dampere was first found in Lincolnshire where Richard de Damper was first listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 2

However another source claims to have earlier entries for the family in Yorkshire: William de Damper 1225; and William Damper 1229. 3

Early History of the Dampere family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dampere research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1229, 1273, 1651, 1652, 1668, 1672, 1715 and 1802 are included under the topic Early Dampere History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dampere Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Dampere has been recorded under many different variations, including Dampier, Damper, Demper, Dempier, Dammper, Dammpier, Dampere, Dampar, Dampir, Dampare, Dampire, Dammpare and many more.

Early Notables of the Dampere family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was William Dampier (1651-1715), an English buccaneer, sea captain, author and scientific observer, the first Englishman to explore sections of New Holland (Australia) and also the first person to circumnavigate the world three times, eponym of Dampier, Australia. He was the "son of a tenant-farmer at East Coker, near Yeovil, was baptised on 8 June 1652. His father died ten years afterwards; and his mother, who had kept on the farm...
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dampere Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dampere family

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Damperes were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: Alex Dampier settled in Virginia in the year 1653.

The Dampere Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Dominus petra mea
Motto Translation: The Lord is my rock.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)