McGimpsey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

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

Early Origins of the McGimpsey family

The surname McGimpsey 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 McGimpsey family

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

McGimpsey Spelling Variations

People who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname McGimpsey that are preserved in archival documents are Dempsey, O'Dempsey, Dempsy, Dempsay, Dempsie and many more.

Early Notables of the McGimpsey 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 McGimpsey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McGimpsey migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name McGimpsey to North America:

McGimpsey Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

William McGimpsey, aged 20, who landed in America from Belfast, in 1903
James McGimpsey, aged 22, who landed in America from Banger, Ireland, in 1910
Edward McGimpsey, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from Donaghadee, Ireland, in 1910
William J McGimpsey, aged 26, who landed in America from Donaghadee, Ireland, in 1911
Essie McGimpsey, aged 30, who settled in America from Donaghadee, Ireland, in 1916
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McGimpsey 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:

McGimpsey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James McGimpsey, aged 24, a bootmaker, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dilharree" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name McGimpsey (post 1700) +

Amiee McGimpsey, American Consular Officer to Iceland
Garth McGimpsey MBE (b. 1955), Irish amateur golfer from Bangor, Northern Ireland
Michael McGimpsey MLA (b. 1948), Ulster Unionist Party Member of the Legislative Assembly for Belfast South
David McGimpsey, Canadian humorist from Montreal
Paul McGimpsey, New Zealand champion cox in 2004, 2005 and 2006

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)