Surname Hempsey - Meaning and Origin
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Hempsey: What does the surname Hempsey mean?
The last name Hempsey has Irish origins and is derived from the Gaelic O'hAimseallaigh, which translates to descendant of Aimsealach. Aimsealach was an ancient Irish surname and was said to refer to someone from the descendants of the chief of the sept of Aimsealach.
This surname was most popularly found in County Galway in Ireland and it is speculated that the family derived from the island of Gortanumera, located in the Irish-speaking area of Conamara. There is also an area in County Sligo which contains some families still bearing this surname.
The etymology of the name is thought to be related to the Old Irish hamsgidha which translates to "floating currach", a type of vessel used for short-distance sea travels and fishing. This suggests that the original ancestors of the Hempsey family may have been seafarers.
Historically, Hempseys were members of the O'Kelly clan, one of the most powerful clans in ancient Irish history and were related to the ruling O'Flahertys. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Hempseys held a substantial estate, which included the islands of Ulva and Gometra, two islands located near the Corrib River in County Galway.
The Hempsey family has a long history and is a reminder of a time long past. Today, the Hempsey surname is relatively rare but still found in several areas of Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisHempsey: Where does the name Hempsey come from?
The surname Hempsey is thought to be of English origin. It is most common in the United Kingdom, particularly in the counties of Essex, Kent, and Suffolk. In the United States, citizens with the last name of Hempsey are largely concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic region and the Midwest. Specifically, Wisconsin, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York have the highest concentrations. In general, individuals with the last name Hempsey can be found throughout the English-speaking world.
Hempsey is thought to be a locational name derived from some place from where the original bearer once hailed. A possible source of the name is an area in Cambridgeshire in England that is now known as Hemingford Grey. In Old English, the area's name was Hemmingaford, which was derived from the personal name Hemming and the word ford, which describes a shallow landing place of a body of water. Since then, the particular spelling of the name has changed over the centuries.
The original bearers of the Hempsey name can be traced back to different regions throughout England. Clusters of the name can be found in counties such as Essex, Kent, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire. As of today, the last name Hempsey remains rather uncommon, but it is still widely used in certain parts of the English-speaking world.
Variations of the surname Hempsey
The surname Hempsey is derived from the Old English personal name Hempsi, an ancient Saxon name thought to refer to a person of the same kind. It is related to the feminine name Hempsy.
Variants of the surname Hempsey include: Hempsall, Hempshall, Hemcesworth, Hemceworth, Hempsay, Hempsy, Hempsye, Hempsaie, Hempseay, Hampsey, Hampsee, Hampshe, Hampsay, Hampseye, Hempsley, Empsons, Hempshe, Hempshay, Empsie, Hempseth, Hemple, Emmple, Emple, Hampson, Hempton, Heimpshall, Heimpeswell, and Heympeswell.
Each of these variants can be seen with alternate spelling variations due to dialectical differences throughout history, such as Hempsall becoming Hemsol, Hempshall becoming Hemshall, and Hempsie becoming Hemsie, as well as with marriage or other legal documents.
The variants and spelling variations of the surname Hempsey all denote a person or family originally from the same area, likely as far back as the 11th century. It is also possible many of these variants are used interchangeably, as surnames have changed and adapted for over a millennium.
Famous people with the name Hempsey
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- Chris Hemsworth: Australian actor.
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