Surname Tinsley - Meaning and Origin
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read moreTinsley: What does the surname Tinsley mean?
The surname Tinsley is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the place-name “Tin’s Leigh”, which is composed of two elements - the Old English pre-seventh century personal name “Tin”, and the word “leah”, which means a clearing in a forest. In some cases, the name may have been acquired as a habitational name, being that of a person from any of the several places named Tinsley in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.
The surname originally denoted one who resided near a field or pasture belonging to a man named Tin. It is likely that all modern occurrences of the surname Tinsley share a common ancestor from this area.
Tinsley can also be an American spelling of the French surname “Toussaint”, which in some cases became Telsie or Telsey, and is derived from the Old French “tous”, meaning “all”, and “sanz”, meaning “without”. This surname originated from an old French motto expressing hope in Divine Providence.
As the English usage of the surname Tinsley was so common in Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, the surname does appear to be mainstay of the English population. The surname is also occasionally found in Ireland, where it may have been taken to the island when people of English descent migrated and settled there. Today, the Tinsley surname can be found all over the world, and is borne by people of many different nationalities.
Order DNA origin analysisTinsley: Where does the name Tinsley come from?
Today, the last name Tinsley is primarily found in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2020 the surname Tinsley was ranked 20,224th in popularity. The name is most common in southern states such as Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee, where it was first found when immigrants from Britain settled in the region. A small number of people with the Tinsley name have lived as far west as California and Oregon.
Tinsley appears to be a name of British origin as variants such as Tinsly, Tinslee, and Tinsleigh can also be found in present day Britain. In the 1800s, the Tinsley immigrants to the US may have brought the name with them.
The surname Tinsley is more than just a name; the nobility of this historic family featured heavily in the financing of the British navy in the 19thcentury. While growing up, the Tinsleys attended private schools, such as Eton College, which many members of the aristocracy also attended, and produced public figures like Charles Pelham Tinsley, a former Prime Minister of South Africa.
Tinsley is an ancient name with roots around the world. While the Tinsley family’s influence seems to have dwindled over the years, a number of Tinsleys still exist today and are keeping the name alive.
Variations of the surname Tinsley
The surname Tinsley is of English origin and has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of the surname Tinsley include Tinsley, Tinsly, Tynsley, Tynsly, Tymsley, Tynzly, Tynsely, Tynzlee, Tynsle, Tinzly, and Tinsely.
Tynsley is an alternate spelling of Tinsley, which originated from the Old English words “tīn” meaning “tiny” and “lēah” meaning “clearing” or “woodland”. Tynsney and Tinsney are also derived from Tinsley and can sometimes be used interchangeably.
The spelling of Tynsly is also found to be among the variants of the surname Tinsley. This spelling also has its roots in the Old English words and is interchangeable with Tynsley.
Other surnames of the same origin as Tinsley are Tynsel, Tymsley, Tinzley, Tinsely, and Tynzlee. These spellings can also be used interchangeably with Tinsley and its other variants. Tynsel is an alternate spelling of Tynsley, with its origin stemming from the same Old English words as the other variants.
Tymsley is another variation of the surname, derived from the Old English terms “tīm” meaning “aces” and “lēah” meaning “clearing” or “woodland”. Tinzley and Tinsely are also considered variants of the surname Tinsley, each spelling differing slightly in its etymology.
Finally, Tynzlee is the most recent spelling to be included among the variants of Tinsley, with its origin stemming from the Old English words “tīn” meaning “tiny” and “lēah” meaning “clearing” or “woodland”. All these variants often interchange with one another, although occasionally they can be associated with separate family lines.
Famous people with the name Tinsley
- Morris Tinsley: American professional squash player and coach.
- Brad Tinsley: American professional basketball player.
- Grant Tinsley: English professional footballer.
- Lisa Tinsley: American entrepreneur and philanthropist.
- Nick Tinsley: English professional darts player.
- James Tinsley: American professional football player.
- Keegan Tinsley: American professional stock car racing driver.
- Lucas Tinsley: American actor and musician.
- Tami Tinsley: American actress, producer, and writer.
- Sybil Tinsley: English writer and television presenter.
- Mike Tinsley: American Olympic track and field athlete.
- Steve Tinsley: English cricketer.
- Neva Tinsley: American journalist and editor.
- Jewell Tinsley: American birth companion and Doula.
- Xander Tinsley: American bass guitarist and vocalist.