Dampier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

England

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The name Dampier reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Dampier family 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 Dampier family

The surname Dampier 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 Dampier family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dampier 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 Dampier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dampier Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Dampier family name include Dampier, Damper, Demper, Dempier, Dammper, Dammpier, Dampere, Dampar, Dampir, Dampare, Dampire, Dammpare and many more.

Early Notables of the Dampier 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 circumn...

Dampier Ranking

In the United States, the name Dampier is the 9,045^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Dampier migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Dampier family to immigrate North America:

Dampier Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Alex Dampier, who settled in Virginia in the year 1653

Dampier migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Dampier Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Dampier, British convict who was convicted in Taunton, Somerset, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Cornwall" on 28th February 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5

Dampier migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Christopher Dampier, aged 49, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Phoebe Dunbar" between 1841 and 1850
Matilda Dampier, aged 45, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Phoebe Dunbar" between 1841 and 1850
M. Catherine Dampier, aged 12, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Phoebe Dunbar" between 1841 and 1850

Contemporary Notables of the name Dampier (post 1700) +

Erick Travez Dampier (b. 1975), American professional NBA basketball player
Louis "Louie" Dampier (b. 1944), American retired professional NBA basketball player
J. T. Dampier, American politician, Mayor of Adel, Georgia, 1944-49 6
Thomas Dampier (1748-1812), English clergyman, Bishop of Rochester (1802-1809) and Bishop of Ely (1808-1812)
Alfred Dampier (1847-1908), English-born, Australian actor, manager and playwright
John Dampier (1750-1826), English amateur cricketer who made three appearances in first-class cricket matches (1785-1787)
Alex "Damps" Dampier (b. 1951), Canadian retired professional ice hockey player and coach, inducted into the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame
Sir William Cecil Dampier FRS (1867-1952), British scientist, agriculturist, and science historian
Robert Dampier (1799-1874), British artist and clergyman
Claude Dampier (1879-1955), British film actor who appeared in 23 titles from 1924 through 1954

The Dampier 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.