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There are approximately 4,511 people named Dempster in the UK. That makes it the 2,332nd most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 71 are named Dempster.

Region of origin

British Isles

Country of origin

Scotland

Language of origin

Gaelic

Religion of origin

Christian

Classification

Celtic
Occupational Name

Related and similar surnames

Demaster
Demeester
Demasters
Deimpster
Deempster
Dampster
Deemster
Demmster
Deimster
Dampstar
Deamster
Deemsters
Deimstere
Damster
Daimster
Dempester
Dempister
Demhster
Demister
Demnster
Dembster
Demester
Dempestor

The Dempster surname in historical dictionaries

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)

Anciently an arbitrator or officer of justice in the Scottish courts.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

Patronymica Britannica (1860)

DEMPSTER. A judge ; the ofllcer of a court who pronounces doom. A-Sax. dcman, to judge. Jamieson. The Isle of Man is divided into two districts, over each of which a deemster still presides. Before the Union, there was an officer in the Scottish senate called the Dempster of Parliament, probably corresponding with the English " Speaker." This office was hereditary in the ancient family of Dempster of Auchterless, and hence their surname. In the old M.S. poem called Cursor Mundi, quoted by Halliweil, we read : —

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.

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