Dempsey
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Dempsey is a surname of Irish origin.
Background
Dempsey is an anglicised form of Ó Díomasaigh, 'descendant of Díomasach'; this personal name is the Irish adjective díomasach 'proud'.[1][2] The family originated in the Kingdom of Uí Failghe.
According to John Grenham:[3]
Another source states:[4]
According to historian C. Thomas Cairney, the O'Dempseys were one of the chiefly families of the Ui Failghe who in turn were a tribe from the Dumnonii or Laigin who were the third wave of Celts to settle in Ireland during the first century BC.[5]
Descent
An Ó Diomasaigh genealogy records the following:[4]
Flann m. Máel Ruanaid m. Cellaich m. Máel Augra m. Conchobuir m. Áeda m. Tomaltajich m. Flaind m. Díumasaich m. Congaile m. Forannáin m. Congaile m. Máel h-Umai m. Cathail m. Bruidge m. Nath Í m. Rosa Failgi.
The final person may be identical with Failge Berraide (fl. 507–514), a king of the Uí Failghe and of Laigin descentTemplate:Crossref.
Dempseys in the annals
The Irish annals list a number of members of the family:
- 789: Áedh [grandfather of Máelaugrai] was slain by Óengus son of Mugrón, king of Uí Failghe, in the oratory of Kilclonfert.
- 1141: Donnchadh, son of Goll Gaibhle, i.e. Ua Conchobhair Failghe, was killed by the Uí Failghe themselves, i.e. the Clann-Maelughra.
- 1161: Domhnall, son of Conghalach, son of Cuaifne Ua Conchobhair Failghe, Tanist of Uí Failghe, was slain by the Clann-Maelughra.
- 1164: Maelseachlainn Ua Conchobhair Failghe, was slain by the Clann-Maelughra.
- 1193: Diarmait, son of Cubrogam Ua Diumasaigh, chief of Clann-Mailighra and king of Uí Failghe for a long time, died.
- 1383: Dermot O'Dempsy, Lord of Kinel-Maoilughra, was slain by the English.
- 1394: Thomas O'Dempsy, heir to the lordship of Clann-Maoilughra, was slain by the English.
Other Dempsey families
An unrelated family, rendered in Irish as Mac Diomasaigh, are found in County Antrim and its neighbouring counties.[6]
Bearers of the name
Notable people with the surname Dempsey include:
- Amy Dempsey (born 1963), American art historian
- Bill Dempsey (born 1942), former Australian rules footballer
- Bill Dempsey (footballer) (1896–1967), English footballer
- Candace Dempsey, American author, journalist and travel writer
- Cedric Dempsey (1932–2025), American sports executive
- Chester Dempsey (1896–1969) American farmer and politician
- Clint Dempsey (born 1983), American soccer player
- Courtenay Dempsey (born 1987), Australian rules footballer
- Damien Dempsey, Irish singer and songwriter
- Dan Dempsey, Australian rugby league footballer
- Denis Dempsey (1826–1896), Irish soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross
- Donald Dempsey (c. 1932 – 2005), American recording executive
- Ed Dempsey, Canadian ice hockey coach
- Frank Dempsey (1925–2013), American football player
- Gary Dempsey, multiple people
- George Dempsey, multiple people
- Girvan Dempsey (born 1975), Irish rugby union footballer
- Henry Dempsey, pilot who survived being sucked out of an airborne Beechcraft 99 aircraft in 1987
- Holli Dempsey, British actor
- Ian Dempsey (born 1961), Irish radio presenter
- Jack Dempsey (1895–1983), American boxer
- Jack Dempsey (disambiguation), other people with this name
- James Dempsey (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jillian Dempsey (born 1991), American ice hockey player
- Jillian Lee Dempsey, American inorganic chemist
- John Dempsey, multiple people
- Judy Dempsey (born 1956), Irish journalist and researcher
- Julia Dempsey (known as Sister Mary Joseph Dempsey), American religious sister, nurse and hospital administrator
- Kyle Dempsey (born 1995) English footballer
- Lawrence Dempsey (died 1690), an Irish soldier
- Lorcan Dempsey (born 1958), Irish library information expert
- Luke Dempsey (born 1979/1980), Irish Gaelic football manager
- Mark Dempsey, multiple people
- Martin Dempsey (born 1952), American general, 18th chairman, US Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Michael Dempsey, multiple people
- Mick Dempsey, Irish Gaelic footballer
- Miles Dempsey (1896–1969), British general of World War II
- Nathan Dempsey (born 1974), Canadian ice hockey player
- Nick Dempsey (born 1980), English windsurfer
- Nicola Dempsey (fl. 2015–), one half of comedy duo Flo and Joan
- Noel Dempsey (born 1953), Irish politician
- Nonpareil Dempsey (1862–1895), ring name of Irish-born American boxer John Kelly
- Patrick Dempsey (born 1966), American actor and race car driver
- Paul Dempsey (born 1976), Australian rock musician
- Ray Dempsey, Irish Gaelic footballer
- Rey Dempsey, retired American college football coach
- Richard Dempsey (born 1974), English actor
- Rick Dempsey (born 1949), retired American baseball player
- Rosemary Dempsey, American feminist activist
- Rosie Dempsey (fl. 2015–), one half of comedy duo Flo and Joan
- Sandra Dempsey, Canadian playwright
- Sandy Dempsey (1949–1975), actress
- Shawna Dempsey, Canadian performance artist
- S. Wallace Dempsey (1862–1949), American Republican politician, Congressman 1915–1931
- Thomas Dempsey (disambiguation) or Tom Dempsey, multiple people
- Tommy Dempsey, American college basketball coach
- Tony Dempsey (politician) (born 1944), Irish Fianna Fáil politician, TD 2002–2007
- Travis Demsey, born Travis Dempsey, Australian musician
As a given name:
- Dempsey Bob (born 1948), Canadian woodcarver
- Dempsey Burges (1751–1800), American politician, Congressman 1795–1799
- Dempsey Wilson (1927–1971), American racecar driver
- P. Dempsey Tabler (1876–1956), American actor, athlete and businessman
Fictional Characters:
- "Tank" Dempsey (born before 1917), fictional U.S Marine from Call of Duty: Black Ops's Zombies mode
- Zach Dempsey, a character in the novel and Netflix series 13 Reasons Why
See also
References
- Matthews, Thomas (1903) Account of the O'Dempseys, Chiefs of Clan Maliere