The correct spelling of the last name Hemings depends on the family member. Our practice, as well as that of the editorial teams for The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, is to use the spelling that the person in question used, if it can be documented. If no documentary proof of a preferred spelling can be found, then we use the spelling that Thomas Jefferson used. The following are the accepted spellings for different Hemings family members:

We have no evidence for a preferred spelling for any other Hemings family members, so we use "Hemings," which was the way Jefferson wrote it.

Further Sources

Available in Our Online Shop: The Hemingses of Monticello

 

Available in Our Online Shop: "Those Who Labor for My Happiness"