Dempsey Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Dempsey last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Dempsey last name
Meaning of the Dempsey last name: descendant of Díomasach ("proud"). Dempsey comes from Ó Díomasaigh, "descendant of Díomasach", a personal name meaning "proud". The O'Dempseys were lords of a territory straddling today's Offaly–Laois boundary, and they held out against the English for centuries. One branch received a viscountcy in 1631. The name is still most common in the Irish midlands and in Dublin. Jack Dempsey, the boxer, was a son of Irish emigrants. Their lands lay around Geashill and Portarlington, and the O'Dempseys were among the few Gaelic families of the region to keep part of their lands after the Tudor plantations. The viscountcy was lost when the family supported James II in the Williamite War. Variant spellings include Dempsy and O'Dempsey. Many Dempseys emigrated to England, the United States and Australia in the 19th century.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Dempsey name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Dempsey name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Dempsey name FAQ
What does the Dempsey name mean?
Descendant of Díomasach ("proud"). Common variants include O'Dempsey, Dempsy, Dempster.
Where does the Dempsey surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a Dempsey coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Dempsey crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Dempsey coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.