Dempsey

For other uses, see Dempsey (disambiguation).

Dempsey is a surname of Irish origin.

Background

Dempsey is an anglicised form of Ó Diomasaigh, « descendant of Díomasaigh »; the latter stems from the Irish adjective díomasach « proud ».[1] The family originated in the Kingdom of Uí Failghe.

According to John Grenham:

"In the original Irish Dempsey is Ó Diomasaigh, from diomasach, meaning "proud". The name was also occasionally anglicised "Proudman". The Ó Diomasaigh originated in the territory of Clanmalier, on the borders of what are now counties Laois and Offaly, and remained powerful in the area until the seventeenth century. In the 12th century, Henry II set his court up in Dublin and summoned the Leinster Chiefs. The O’Dempsey, Chief of Offaly,refused to attend. Strongbow together with his son-in-law De Quincy marched into the O'Dempsey territory to take land by force. In a famous battle the O'Dempsey together with his followers routed the Normans with great slaughter, an action that kept the Normans out of the Dempsey territories for over 300 years. In later years, their allegiance was to the English and they were involved with the newcomers in the massacre of the O’Lalors in Laois in 1577, an action which local tradition says was responsible for their later losses. Charles the first recognised the strength of the family by granting the English titles of Viscount Clanmaliera and Baron Philipstown in 1631 PJ Goode - The O'Dempsey Chronicles>to Terence Dempsey. The loyalty of the family to the Crown was short-lived, however, and the Williamite wars later in the century destroyed their power and scattered them."

Another source states:

"The O'Dempsey family derive their name from Diummasach, an 11th-century Uí Failge prince of the Clann Máel Ugra, aka Cenél Maoilughra. The Clann Máel Úgra, in turn, took their name from Máelaugrai, an Uí Failge chieftain who flourished in the middle of the 9th century. The center of their territory, anglicized Clanmalier, was near Ballybrittas in northeast Co. Leix. Their power later extended into the barony of Upper Phillipstown. O'Donovan, in his Ordnance Survey letters, places Clann-Maoilughra in the present Barony of Upper Philipstown in the King's County and the Barony of Portnahinch in the Queen's County."

The family of the Viscounts Clanmalier upon the death of Maximilian, the 3rd Viscount, in 1691, were scattered largely destitute and Terence O'Dempsey fled Ireland along with his cousin Sir Peter Byrne to Cheshire where the core family flourished. The original velum Charles 1st Title still exists.

Descent

An Ó Diomasaigh genealogy records the following:

Flann m. Máel Ruanaid m. Cellaich m. Máel Augra m. Conchobuir m. Áeda m. Tomaltaich 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 Failge and of Laigin descent (see List of kings of Uí Failghe).

Dempseys in the annals

The Irish annals list a number of members of the family:

Other Dempsey families

An unrelated family, Mac Diomasaigh, are found in County Antrim and its neighbouring counties .

Bearers of the name

The name Dempsey may refer to:

Women:

Men:

As a given name:

External links

References

  1. ↑ P.H. Reany & R. M. Wilson, A dictionary of English Surnames, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 3rd ed., 1995, p. 131a; Edward MacLynsaght, The Surnames of Ireland, Irish Academic Press, 6th ed., Dublin, 1991, p. 79.