Ainley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Early Origins of the Ainley family

The surname Ainley was first found in Nottinghamshire at Annesley, a parish, in the union of Basford, N. division of the wapentake of Broxtow. 1 "But there is probably a north English local origin also. There is also Ansley, a parish in Warwickshire. " 2

Robert de Insula (d. 1283), bishop of Durham, born at Holy Island, apparently of humble parentage may be related to the family, but it is difficult to confirm as "the Lanercost chronicler calls him Robertus de Coquina." 3

But we must look to the aforementioned Nottinghamshire to find one of the first records of the family. For it is there in 1273, the Hundredorum Rolls listed Johannes de Anneslegh. In Yorkshire, Johannes de Andeslay was listed there in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rills of 1379 and the Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III. includes an entry for John de Annesley, Yorkshire, 20 Edward I (during the twentieth year of Edward I's reign). 2

However, much further to the north in Scotland, William de Hanesley witnessed a charter by Walter, Bishop of Glasgow, between 1208 and 1218. "He is probably William de Anslee, Canon of Glasgow c. 1220. In 1221 Magister Thomas de Aneslei was one of a number appointed to settle a dispute between the monks of Kelso and the bishop of Glasgow, and Sir Aymer de Aynesley was one of the knights appointed to settle the law of the marches in 1249. Two individuals of this name rendered homage in 1296 [to King Edward I of England]: John le fiz Johan de Anesleye of Roxburghshire, and Johan de Anesleye of Crucfut of Lanarkshire. Adam de Aynesleye was juror on an inquisition held at Roxburgh in 1357, and John of Aynesley witnessed a grant of the forest of Eteryk to John Kerre in 1358. In 1377 Robert II granted to William de Aynysley a charter of the lands of Dolfynston in the sheriffdom of Roxburgh forfeited by John de Aynysley his father." 4

Early History of the Ainley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ainley research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1246, 1296, 1493, 1500, 1521, 1766, 1836 and 1838 are included under the topic Early Ainley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ainley Spelling Variations

Although the name, Ainley, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Ainslie, Ainsley, Ansley, Anslie, Aynslie, Aynsley, Aynsly, Aynsle, Ainley, Endlsley and many more.

Early Notables of the Ainley family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was William de Aynysley, who was granted a charter of the lands of Dolfynston in the sheriffdom of Roxburgh forfeited by John de Aynysley his father. The lands of Dolphingstoun passed, c. 1500, to the Kers of Cessfurd through marriage of Mark Ker with Marjorie Ainslie, daughter and heiress of John...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ainley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ainley migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Ainley family name Ainley, or who bore a variation of the surname were

Ainley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Teresa Ainley, aged 42, originally from Grimsby, England, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Columbia" from Glasgow, Scotland 5
Warren Ainley, aged 29, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Ulua" from Port Limon via Cristobal and Havana 5
Lewis Ainley, aged 27, who arrived in New York in 1921 from San Juan, Puerto Rico 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Ainley (post 1700) +

David G. Ainley, American Antarctic Program ornithologist who studied penguin and skua populations at Cape Crozier and McMurdo Sound in six seasons, eponym of Ainley Peak, Antarctica
John Ainley (1939-2001), American Republican politician, Member of Minnesota State House of Representatives, 1979-83 6
Greta A. Ainley (1896-1996), American Republican politician, Delegate to New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention from Manchester 1st Ward, 1956; Member of New Hampshire State House of Representatives, 1957-66 6
Richard Ainley (1910-1967), English stage and film actor, son of Henry Ainley
Joe Ainley (1878-1907), English cricketer who played from 1905 to 1906
Henry Hinchliffe Ainley (1879-1945), English Shakespearean stage and screen actor
Anthony Ainley (1932-2004), English actor, best known for his role as the Master in Doctor Who (1981-1989)

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html