Map of Ireland showing where the Dempsey arms are recorded
The Dempsey arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Dempsey arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Dempsey Family in Ireland
The surname Dempsey originates from the Gaelic name Ó Díomasaigh, which translates to mean proud or haughty. The family was historically centered in the territory of Clanmalire, which spanned parts of modern-day County Laois and County Offaly. As members of the Leinster nobility, the Dempseys held significant influence in the region for centuries. By the year 1645, records confirm that members of the family were established in Dublin, reflecting a period where many prominent Irish families moved toward urban centers during times of political upheaval. This transition marked a shift from their traditional rural power base toward the changing social and economic landscape of seventeenth-century Ireland.
Dempsey Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Ó Díomasaigh
Derived from the Gaelic word díomasach meaning proud or haughty.
This name
DempseyRefers to a descendant of the proud or arrogant one.
also spelled
Dempsie
Dempsy
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Woulfe, Patrick, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames, 1923
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 1654–1656
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