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![Show Contents]() Demester History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland
The descendants of the clans of the ancient Scottish tribe known as the Picts were the first to use the name Demester. It was a name for a person who held the office of judex or dempster to the Parliament. Up until 1747, every barony held courts for trials in that barony and the judex was a baillie for the chief or laird. 1 Early Origins of the Demester familyThe surname Demester was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland. "Until the year 1747 every laird whose land had been erected into a barony was empowered to hold courts for the trial and punishment of certain offenders within his barony; and the dempster was part of his retinue. " 2 The first record of the name was "Haldan de Emester of Perthshire, who rendered homage in 1296 [to King Edward I of England], is to be read Haldan Deem ester." 2 His son, or grandson, Haldan Dempster, also inherited the lands of Menemuir. He was a Dempster and held court in that area. Early History of the Demester familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Demester research. Another 363 words (26 lines of text) covering the years 1360, 1361, 1364, 1370, 1379, 1388, 1428, 1579, 1585, 1602, 1625, 1684 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Demester History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Demester Spelling VariationsBefore the first dictionaries appeared in the last few hundred years, scribes spelled according to sound. spelling variations are common among Scottish names. Demester has been spelled Dempster, Deemester, Dempstar, Demster and others. Early Notables of the Demester familyNotable amongst the Clan at this time was Thomas Dempster (1579-1625), Scottish scholar and historian "was born, according to his own statement, on 23 Aug. 1579. His autobiography, however, is clearly marked by the same habit of grotesquely extravagant falsehood which appears in some of his other writings; and there seems...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Demester Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Demester family to Ireland
Some of the Demester family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Demester familyIn those unstable times, many had no choice but to leave their beloved homelands. Sickness and poverty hounded travelers to North America, but those who made it were welcomed with land and opportunity. These settlers gave the young nations of Canada and the United States a strong backbone as they stood up for their beliefs as United Empire Loyalists and in the American War of Independence. In this century, the ancestors of these brave Scots have begun to recover their illustrious heritage through Clan societies and other heritage organizations. Early passenger and immigration lists reveal many Scottish settlers bearing the name Demester: Jane Dempster who settled in Barbados in 1679; Alex, Blakley, James, John, Lilly, Robert, Samuel and William Dempster, all settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1775 and 1868..
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: Fortier et strenue
Motto Translation: Boldly and earnestly.
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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