“在人体内的幽灵存在，通过在夜间离开坟墓来吸食活人的温血，以维持生命的表象”，1732年，vampyre，来自法语vampire（18世纪）或德语Vampir（1732年，像英语单词一样首次出现在匈牙利吸血鬼的记载中），源自匈牙利语vampir，来自古教会斯拉夫语ǫpiri，ǫpyri（也是塞尔维亚语vampir，保加利亚语vapir，乌克兰语uper的来源），斯拉夫语言学家弗朗茨·米克洛西奇（Franc Miklošič）称其最终来源于喀山鞑靼语ubyr“女巫”，但该语言领域的专家马克斯·瓦斯梅尔（Max Vasmer）发现这一说法在语音上是可疑的。
MR. D'Anvers tells of a Conversation he had about a certain Prodigy, mention'd in the News Papers of March last, viz. that in the Village of Medreyga in Hungary, certain dead Bodies (call'd there Vampyres) had kill'd several Persons by sucking out all their Blood : That Arnold Paul, an Heyduke, having kill'd four Persons after he was dead, his Body was taken up 40 Days after, which bled at the Nose, Mouth and Ears : That, according to Custom, they drove a Stake thro' his Heart, at which he gave horrid Groan, and lost a great deal of Blood. And that all such as have been tormented or kill'd by Vampyres, become Vampyres when they are dead. [London Journal, May 20, 1732, quoted in Weekly Essays, May 1732]
关于这个故事的传播，可能可以追溯到1732年出版的小册子，其标题页上写着：Dissertationem De Hominibus Post Mortem Sanguisugis, Vulgo Sic Dictis Vampyren, Auctoritate Inclyti Philosophorum Ordinis, Publico Eruditorum Examini Die XXX. Aug. An. MDCCXXXII. Submittent M. Io. Christophorus Pohlius, Lignicens. Silesius Et Io. Gottlob Hertelius, Philos. Et Med. Stud.
一种东欧生物，在19世纪晚期的哥特小说中被英语化，然而早在1196年就有关于行走的死尸的零散英语记载，但缺乏对这种生物的特殊名称。
“以他人为猎物”的比喻意义始于1741年。1774年，法国生物学家布丰（Buffon）将其应用于一种南美吸血蝙蝠。1909年作为“诱惑女性”使用（参见vamp (n.2)）相关词：Vampiric。
