Hampsay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Hampsay is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that came from the baptismal name for the son of Hamon. "Sometimes Hampson (the 'p' is intrusive, as in Simpson or Thompson) is a corruption of Hamondson. Occasionally it may be direct from the nick. Hamme; v. Ham. The Manchester and South Lancashire directories conclusively prove, by the large number of Hampsons they contain, how locally popular was Hamond in the 14th and 15th centuries as a font-name. " 1

Early Origins of the Hampsay family

The surname Hampsay was first found in Cumberland (Cumbria) where John Hammonson was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1332. Years later, Robert Hamsone, Hameson was listed in Yorkshire in 1354 and in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Roll of 1379. 2 Another source confirms the last entry but noted the name was listed in the more Latin form: Robertus Hameson. 1

Early History of the Hampsay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hampsay research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1551, 1553, 1748, 1760, 1785, 1791, 1792 and 1817 are included under the topic Early Hampsay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hampsay Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Hampsay has been recorded under many different variations, including Hampson, Hampsey, Hampsy, O'Hampsey, Hamson and others.

Early Notables of the Hampsay family

Notables of the family at this time include John Hampson (1760-1817?), an English miscellaneous writer, son of John Hampson of Manchester. His parents were Methodists, and both father and...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hampsay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hampsay family to Ireland

Some of the Hampsay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hampsay migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Hampsay or a variant listed above:

Hampsay Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Hampsay, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County Pennsylvania in 1869 3

The Hampsay 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: Nunc aut nunquam
Motto Translation: Now or never.

Citations +

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)
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)