Meaning & Story
Dempsey is an Irish Gaelic surname from "Ó Díomasaigh," meaning "descendant of Díomasach" — a personal name meaning "proud" or "haughty." It carries the fierce Irish pride of a fighter's name, most associated with heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey.
Dempsey has a fighter's name: clean, punchy, and with the historical weight of Jack Dempsey, the "Manassa Mauler," who was world heavyweight boxing champion in the 1920s. For pets, Dempsey suits the confident, muscular, slightly stubborn type — the bulldog who has opinions about everything, or the terrier who approaches the world with the assumption that everything is a challenge to be overcome. There is a proud Irish energy to the name that suits pets with genuine character and no interest in backing down.