Hampson

Hampson is a surname of English origin and, less commonly, a geographical placename. It is found in the United Kingdom and in other English-speaking countries, including the United States, Australia, and Canada, reflecting historical migration and settlement patterns.

The name is typically considered patronymic, derived from a given name such as Hamp, with the suffix -son meaning “son of Hamp.” It may also reflect a toponymic origin from places named Hamp- or Hamps- in England. Over time, the spelling has appeared in records as Hampson and, less commonly, Hamson in various regions.

Notable individuals with the surname include George Francis Hampson (1860–1936), a British entomologist who served at the Natural History Museum and authored important catalogs of Lepidoptera, notably continuing work on the classification and description of moths and butterflies. Beyond this figure, the name appears across a range of fields, including science, politics, and business, without a single dominant public figure bearing the surname. As with many English surnames, Hampson has diversified through global movement and local history, contributing to its presence in contemporary records and genealogical research.