ðə hˈæmptən ɹˈɪvɚ wʌz nˈeɪmd fɔːɹ hˈɛnɹi ɹɪˈɑːθɛsli, θˈɜːd ˈɜːl ʌv saʊθˈæmptən, ɐn ɪmpˈoːɹtənt lˈiːdɚɹ ʌvðə vɜːdʒˈɪniə kˈʌmpəni ʌv lˈʌndən.
The Hampton River was named for Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, an important leader of the Virginia Company of London.