Surname Hampson - Meaning and Origin

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Undergoing a DNA test through iGENEA unraveled the hidden layers within my genetic history of the surname Hampson. The comprehensive journey into my lineage brought me valuable insights into my roots, invigorating a deeper connection with my surname's past and its ongoing story in the world.

P. Hampson

Hampson: What does the surname Hampson mean?

The last name Hampson is a patronymic, meaning that it is derived from the name of an ancestor's father. The name is believed to have originated in Britain, and was likely used by those of Anglo-Saxon decent. It is speculated that the name was derived from the Old English pre-7th Century personal name Hann, which is a short form of Johan, or John. This name is generally thought to mean "God is gracious". In the 13th Century, the use of patronymics was fairly common and the suffix -son was added to indicate a literal meaning of ‘son of Hann’ or John.

Throughout the centuries, the spelling of the name evolved into the now commonly seen Hampson, however, there are variations such as Hampsom, Hamson, Hansom, Haanpaa, Hangemsong and many more. Since the patronymic system was in common usage, this name can be found in many different countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Ireland, and even Australia and other parts of the British Commonwealth.

The name Hampson is an honorific, denoting a legacy of our forefathers, with a symbolic representation of loyalty and belonging to a kindred or exclusive group. This legacy lives on today, as families around the world still proudly bear the same name.

Hampson: Where does the name Hampson come from?

The last name Hampson is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today. Hampson is an English family name, likely originating from Hertfordshire in the 12th century. Following a pattern of migration, Hampson families spread to other parts of England and Wales, as well as Scotland, Ireland, and Australia.

According to SurnameDB, the name Hampson is most concentrated in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Northumberland, in that order. It is also fairly common in the rest of the UK, such as Yorkshire, Kent, Essex, Middlesex, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, and Gloucestershire.

Since 1901, the population of Hampsons has decreased in the UK across all administrative regions. However, the name continues to be a popular last name, particularly in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland. It can also be found in smaller numbers around the world.

Given the family history associated with the name, many Hampsons may still exist in countries that the family has its roots in; regions such as Germany, Denmark, and Netherlands.

Variations of the surname Hampson

The surname Hampson is an English patronymic surname derived from the given name of the father, which in this case is Ham. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Hampson include, but are not limited to, the following:

Hamp, Hampson, Hampsonne, Hamson, Hammond, Ham, Hamond, Hamund, Hamonda, Hammon, Homping, Hmmp, Hamsone, Hamshon, Hamsom, Houmphrey, Hammonds, Hammin, Humpherson, Humpheson, Humstone, Humson, Humpson, Hempton, Hempsall, Hemsom, Hempsone.

Hampson is most likely to have been an occupational surname, as Ham was the Anglo-Saxon term for a gatherer of either acorns or wood. This is because acorns were traditionally kept in a storeroom named a "ham", and a wood gatherer was called a "homme".

In Scotland, the variants Hemsone and Hemsom were derived from Ham's son. This spelling appears in records from 1527 right up to the 1750s.

The most common variation of the surname in Great Britain is Hammond. This version first appeared in the medieval period in Northumberland, and is derived from the old English occupational name "Hamunda". This refers to someone who cut and sold wood.

Other less common variants of Hampson include Hammon and Humpherson. These are both derived from the Norman French term "hamon", meaning homestead.

People with the Hampson name can also be found in other countries such as Ireland, Germany, France and Canada, where different variants and spellings of the name have evolved over time.

Famous people with the name Hampson

• Larkin Hampson: singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and poet.
• Melissa Hampson: Canadian film and television actress.
• George Hampson: British academic and entomologist who was professor of zoology at the University of Liverpool and editor of the journal Entomologist's Gazette.
• Matt Hampson: an English former rugby union player who was paralysed from the shoulders down as a result of an accident while playing scrummaging during a training session with England Under 21s.
• Dorothy Hampson: an Australian academic, cultural historian, and writer.
• Henry Hampson: a British cricketer who played twenty-five first-class matches between 1820 and 1851, all for Kent.
• Jean Hampson: a British illustrator.
• Randell William Hampson: a former professional footballer, who played his entire senior career for Port Vale between 1971 and 1979.
• Howard Hampson: an English former professional footballer who made more than 500 appearances in the Football League.
• Richard Hampson: an English former professional footballer who made five appearances in the Football League.

Other surnames

Hampsch