Surname Hempsall - Meaning and Origin
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Hempsall: What does the surname Hempsall mean?
The surname Hempsall can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is likely to be derived from the Old English words "ham" meaning home, and "sæl" meaning hall. The combination of these two words would then mean "Home Hall," or a place where one would go to find a home or have a family gathering.
The name may also have been derived from the Old English personal name Hemel, sometimes shortened to Hemel. This name would refer to someone who lived in a high or hill-top home, or Hemlesweorth.
Throughout history, the name Hempsall has been found in records all over the British Isles, from Lancashire and Worcestershire to Cheshire and even Scotland. It is likely that those with the name come from an old Anglo Saxon family, though this can't be verified with certainity.
The surname Hempsall was likely indicative of someone who was of noble birth, or someone from a prominent lineage. It has also been suggested that anyone with the surname Hempsall was recipeint of an ancient tradition of excellence and good fortune.
Today, the surname Hempsall is primarily found in the UK, but it also exists in other countries such as Ireland, Canada, and the United States. Interestingly, there has been an increase in Hempsall families in the USA in recent years likely due to immigration.
Order DNA origin analysisHempsall: Where does the name Hempsall come from?
The last name Hempsall is believed to have originated in the northern English county of Yorkshire, and is still common in the region today. The Hempsall name is believed to have originated in the 12th century as an occupational name derived from the Old English ‘hemeline’ meaning a ’seller of hemp’; hemp was widely cultivated for rope and it’s other uses.
Today, the last name Hempsall is most commonly associated with the greater Yorkshire region in the United Kingdom, notably in the boroughs of Calderdale and Kirklees. Other parts of the region where the Hempsall name can be found include the East Riding of Yorkshire, Sheffield, Bradford and parts of Derbyshire.
Worldwide, the Hempsall name is still relatively uncommon, however, it is quite common in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and various parts of the United States. Those with the Hempsall last name can also be found in European countries such as France and Germany, with German records showing the presence of at least one Oelkers man named Hempsall.
The surname Hempsall has endured through the centuries, and its presence in parts of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and Europe is a testament to its strength and popularity.
Variations of the surname Hempsall
Hempsall is an old English surname with multiple variations and spellings. Many records show variations adapted from other languages over the years or cultural adaptations of the original meaning. Some of the variants, spellings and surnames of Hempsall include:
Hempsey
Hempsall
Hempsell
Hempshall
Hemston
HEMPSTALL
Hemstell
Hoamptsell
Hompsall
Hamstall
Hample
These variations are believed to have derived from "Heimpes-hala", which translates to "the home of the horseman" or "the estate of the horseman" in Old English. This could mean that the original bearer of this name was a horseman or owned land containing horses.
The surname Hempsall can also be found without an "H" at the start, such as Empsall, Empsey, Empshall, Empsall, Empsell, Empster, and Emston. This could have been either an illiterate adaptation of the name or simply a variant stemming from a mispronunciation over the years due to dialect.
Hempsall can also be found with the prefixes "Arn" and "Fer", such as Arnempsey, Arnhempsall, Fernempsey, Fernhempsall, which had the same meaning as Hempsall and most likely were used to distinguish different branches of the same family.
In America, the surname Hempsall is often found as Hemple, Hempley, or Hempel. This could have been an adaptation of the original spelling due to local dialect or phonetic adaptation over time as the surname spread to different parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Hempsall
- Sarah Hempsall: A British screenwriter and director, Sarah Hempsall has written and directed shows for the BBC including Skins, EastEnders, and Strangers.
- Jim Hempsall: An English football manager, Jim Hempsall managed the Leicester City Football Club in the late 1980s.
- Heidi Hempsall: A British actress best known for her stage credits, Heidi Hempsall made her professional debut in the West End production of Mamma Mia.
- Adrian Hempsall: A British military commander, Admiral Adrian Hempsall served in the Royal Navy from 1962 to 1988, becoming the Flag Officer, Scotland and Northern Ireland in 1986.
- Martin Hempsall: An English professional cricketer, Martin Hempsall represented Scotland in two One Day Internationals in 1998.
- Francis Hempsall: A British cinematographer, editor and producer, Francis Hempsall is best known for his work on the television series Band of Brothers.
- Geoffrey Hempsall: A senior commander in the Royal Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Geoffrey Hempsall DFC was the commander of Strike Command from 1989 to 1991.
- William Hempsall: An English cricketer, William Hempsall represented Lancashire and the Players in the late 1800s.
- Adrian Hempsall: A British paleontologist, from 1960 to 1989 Adrian Hempsall was the head of the Palaeontology Department at the British Museum (Natural History).
- Vida Hempsall: A British singer and songwriter, Vida Hempsall has released several albums and singles.