Recorded as Hampson, Hempson and Himpson, this is an early medieval English surname. It is one of the patronymic forms of the surname Hammon or Hammond. These names are themselves ultimately of pre 7th century Anglo-Saxon origin, from the personal name "Haimo". It was introduced into England after the Conquest of 1066 in the forms Haim, Haimon, Hamo, Hamon and Aymes, and as such appears in the famous Domesday Book of 1086. Over the years it developed into the English form of Hamond and Hammond, with Hamundus Cocus being recorded in Norfolk in 1140. The patronymic forms of the surname from this source were established by the early 14th century with Robert Hameson being listed in the register of the Freemen of the City of York in 1354, and Henry Hampson appears in the same register in 1540. The "p" of the latter form is an intrusive addition to aid pronunciation at a time when Standard English was taking over from Middle English as the spoken language. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Hammonson, which was dated 1332, in the "Subsidy Rolls of Cumberland", during the reign of King Edward 111rd, known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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