What does the word gypsy mean to you?

Wanderer. Simple.

People are using Wikipedia and the literal definition, but the term has often been used to describe a wanderer or yes, "free spirited" traveler.

Roma.

Outside of the Romanian sort, you mean? If we are speaking literally, when I hear the word "Gypsy", my first though is someone of Roma descent. If you're talking about the figurative term "Gypsy", I would describe them as a traveling hippie. Peace-loving, relaxed, probably a huge stoner who dabbles in harder drugs and psychedelics from time to time and who is likely homeless (or lacks a permanent address). They probably hitch-hike or take trains from town to town with money either gotten from begging, playing instruments in the street for money, savings or being on government benefits. I knew people like that and "Gypsy" sounds like the best term to describe them.

Apparently my family is from Romani descent, but who knows.

They are pretty bad people, not all but quite a lot, but my family have always known gypsies, they can be fun I remember getting a lift in with my mothers ex boyfriend and they all surrounded the car and asking who we are and to get out, but then they realized that I was my mother's son and were all delighted to see me and kept calling my mother's boyfrined "Shan man". Ah, it was funny.

Tough bastards, too.

they are a race of people I thought that historically had "Gypped" people by reading crystal balls and what not.

Those chicks with like the crystal ball

I think of that chick from the Hunchback of Notredame.

Travellers specifically of Roma descent. Romani people.

Not other travelling communities such as Irish traveller or nomadic indigenous peoples such as those in Tibet, Mongolia and areas of Africa.

Which I think fits the general definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsy_(term)#Gypsy_and_Gipsy

Pikey