Recorded as Sampey and Sampy, this is a very unusual surname. It is probably locational, just may be of Scottish origin, and if so could be from the Isle of Samphrey in the Yell Sound. However whilst it is recorded in the surviving church registers of the city of London from at least Stuart times (1603 - 1714), it is not recorded in the Scottish Dictionary of Surnames at all, nor seemingly in any of the Scottish counties before the 20th century. A study of the surviving registers show that the name is almost entirely based upon the original seaport of Deptford in the county of Kent. Did the former islanders of Samphrey move to Deptford? It seems unlikley, but much stranger things have happened with names. If we assume that the current surname spelling is correct and in spite of its appearance, it probably translates as "sand island" from the pre 6th century Olde English "sand -eg. Examples of recordingsa include Thomas Sampey who married Rose Michaell on November 21st 1641 at St Botolphs Bishopgate in the city of London, and Ann Sampey who was christened at St Pauls Deptford, on June 24th 1733.

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