Find out how popular the last name Demps is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Demps.

Demps, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Demps surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Demps in America

Demps is the 17726th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Demps surname appeared 1,581 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Demps.

We can also compare 2010 data for Demps to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Demps

The surname Demps has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a variation of the surname Dempster, which was a Scottish occupational name derived from the Old English word "dēma" meaning "judge" or "one who pronounces doom."

In the medieval period, the Dempster or Demps would have been a court official responsible for announcing the decrees and judgments of the local lord or magistrate. The name may have also been associated with certain administrative duties within the manorial system.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Demps can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mention a John Demps. This suggests that the name was present in the West Midlands region of England during the 14th century.

Another notable early reference is in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1344, where a William Demps is mentioned. These court rolls provide valuable insights into the prevalence of surnames during that period.

As the surname spread across England, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Dempes, Dempse, and Dempsey. These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in record-keeping and the influence of regional dialects.

One notable individual bearing the surname Demps was Sir John Demps, a merchant and Member of Parliament for Newcastle-under-Lyme in 1553 during the reign of Queen Mary I.

In the 16th century, the Demps family established themselves in the county of Gloucestershire, where they held lands and estates. John Demps (1533-1601) was a prominent landowner and benefactor in the village of Bourton-on-the-Water.

During the 17th century, a branch of the Demps family migrated to the American colonies, settling in Virginia. Richard Demps (1620-1688) was among the early settlers and became a prosperous tobacco planter.

Another notable figure was Captain William Demps (1745-1823), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

In the 19th century, the surname Demps was also found in parts of Ireland, where it may have been introduced through English settlers or through variations in spelling and pronunciation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Demps

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Demps.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Demps was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Demps has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Demps was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Demps, please contact us.

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