Dempsey

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. O’Dempsey, Chief of Offaly, was one of the few native Irish leaders who defeated Strongbow. 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. James I recognised the strength of the family by granting the title "Viscount Clanmalier" 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." [1]

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." [2]

The family of the viscounts Clanmalier were attainted upon the death of Maximilian, the 3rd viscount, in 1691.

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. [3]

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:

• 789: Áedh [grandfather of Máelaugrai] was slain by Óengus son of Mugrón, king of Uí Failge, in the oratory of Kilclonfert.
• 1141: Donnchadh, son of Goll Gaibhle, i.e. Ua Conchobhair Failghe, was killed by the Ui-Failghe themselves, i.e. the Clann-Maelughra.
• 1161: Domhnall, son of Conghalach, son of Cuaifne Ua Conchobhair Failghe, Tanist of Ui-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 Ui-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, Mac Diomasaigh, are found in County Antrim and its neighbouring counties [4].

Bearers of the name

The name Dempsey may refer to:

Women:

• Muriel Dempsey (1905–1986), Canadian author
• Rosemary Dempsey, American feminist activist
• Sandra Dempsey, Canadian playwright

Men:

• Bill Dempsey (born 1942), former Australian rules footballer
• Cedric Dempsey, former American sports executive
• 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
• Gary Dempsey:
  • Gary Dempsey (born 1948), Australian rules football player
  • Gary Dempsey (footballer) (born 1981), Irish footballer
• George Dempsey:
  • George Dempsey (basketball) (born 1929), American basketball player
  • George Dempsey (diplomat), American diplomat
  • George Dempsey (teacher), Irish teacher
• Girvan Dempsey (born 1975), Irish rugby union footballer
• Ian Dempsey (born 1961), Irish radio presenter
• Jack Dempsey:
  • Jack Dempsey (1895–1983), heavyweight American boxer
  • Jack Dempsey (politician), Australian politician, MP from 2006
  • Jack Dempsey (wrestler), ring name of Thomas Moore (1920–2007), British professional wrestler
  • Jack (Nonpareil) Dempsey (1862–1895), born John Edward Kelly, middleweight Irish boxer
• James Dempsey (1917–1982), Scottish politician, MP 1959–1982
• John Dempsey:
  • John Dempsey (footballer) (born 1946), Irish retired footballer
  • John Dempsey (lyricist), also playwright
  • John N. Dempsey (1915–1989), American politician (Connecticut)
  • John J. Dempsey (1879–1958), American politician (New Mexico)
  • John P. Dempsey (born January 3, 1901, died 1975) California Superior Court Justice, Santa Clara County
• Lorcan Dempsey (born 1958), Irish library information expert
• Mark Dempsey:
  • Mark Dempsey (English footballer) (born 1964), English footballer and coach
  • Mark Dempsey (Irish footballer) (born 1972), retired Irish footballer
• Martin Dempsey (born 1952), American general, 18th and current Chairman, US Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Michael Dempsey:
  • Michael Dempsey (born 1958), British musician
  • Micheal Dempsey (footballer) (born 1975), Irish footballer
• Mick Dempsey (Gaelic footballer), retired 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
• Noel Dempsey (born 1953), Irish politician
• Patrick Dempsey (born 1966), American actor in Grey's Anatomy, movies
• Paul Dempsey (born 1976), Australian rock musician
• Rey Dempsey, retired American college football coach
• Richard Dempsey (born 1974), English actor
• Rick Dempsey (born 1949), retired American baseball player
• S. Wallace Dempsey (1862–1949), American Republican politician, Congressman 1915–1931
• Tom Dempsey:
  • Tom Dempsey (born 1947), retired American football player
  • Tom Dempsey (Missouri) (born 1967), American Republican restaurateur and politician
• Tommy Dempsey, American college basketball coach
• Tony Dempsey (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

External links

• http://www.fair-trade-usa.com/dempsey-clan/history-dempsey-ireland.htm
• http://www.henneberry.org/dunn/dempsey.htm
• http://genforum.genealogy.com/dempsey/
• http://boards.ancestry.netscape.com/surnames.dempsey/304.341/mb.ashx
• http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45522336161&v=wall

References

This page or section lists people with the surname Dempsey. If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.