Show ContentsInglish History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Inglish is a name whose history is entwined with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name for a Englishman, so nicknamed for a person from England. The name Inglish comes from the Old English word "Englisc," originally used to describe the Angles as distinct from the Saxons. One document in referrring to a raid in 1541, mentions the attacking party were 'to the number of fifty-two Inglimen. The name was probably used to refer to "Non Welsh" in the border counties in that region, "Non-Celtic Scot" in the Scottish-England borderlands, and "Non-Dane" in the Danelaw regions.

Another source notes the name is "borne by numerous Norman families. Adam, Alexander, Alvered, Asceline, Bernard, Henry, Elias, Gaufrid, and twenty more, bore, 1180-95, the name of Anglicus in Normandy (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae). Twenty-four of the name of Anglicus are mentioned in 1198 The families of English or Inglis are all Norman. 'England’ is another form of Anglicus." 1

And finally we must include the following: " ‘English’, originally referring to Angles as distinct from Saxons, a meaning not to be considered for the surname. Inglis is a Scottish form denoting an Englishman as opposed to the Scottish borderer or the Celtic Scot, whilst the northern English probably referred to an Englishman living among Strathclyde Welsh. But the name was not confined to this district. In the Welsh border counties the name would be given to an Englishman in a preponderatingly Welsh community. For some generations after the Conquest an official distinction was made between Angli and Franci, the native, defeated English and the conquering Normans, and this may account for the name in Essex, Kent and Sussex, where it was probably at first derogatory. At the end of the 13th century l’Englois is found as a surname in Paris and this, given by Frenchmen in France, may well have been retained when the emigrant returned home. " 2

Early Origins of the Inglish family

The surname Inglish was first found in Herefordshire where Gillebertus Anglicus was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1171. 2 William le Englich was listed in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Walter Ingeleys, Oxfordshire and Roger Ingleys was listed in the Writs of Parliament c. 1300. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes Inglays as holding lands there at that time. 4

Further to the south in the parish of Whitstone, Cornwall, "the manor of Wadfast belonged to a family named L'Engleis, or English, so early as the reign of Edward III. " 5

One source claims there is good evidence that the family lived near Winkleigh Tracy, Devon. At one time, there were two castles, "but there is no trace of either now, beyond a couple of mounds, which may have been the foundations. It is quite possible that one of those 'castles' may have been the mansion at Up Holecombe, which Richard Inglish had the licence of the King to castellate about 1361, especially as one of the mounds above mentioned is very doubtful." 6

Early History of the Inglish family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Inglish research. Another 202 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1153, 1171, 1205, 1208, 1269, 1296, 1311, 1478, 1564, 1630, 1660, 1683, 1686, 1687, 1688, 1689, 1693, 1703, 1714, 1718, 1734, 1771, 1772, 1786, 1799, 1801, 1816, 1817, 1855, 1890 and 1942 are included under the topic Early Inglish History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Inglish Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Inglish were recorded, including Inglis, Inglish, Inglys, English, Englys and others.

Early Notables of the Inglish family

Distinguished members of the family include Archibald Inglis (b. circa 1630), an ordained minister, who was Rector of Glasow University from 1686-1689; Sir James Inglis of Cramond, who was created a Baronet in...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Inglish Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Inglish family to Ireland

Some of the Inglish family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Inglish migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Inglish family emigrate to North America:

Inglish Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Inglish, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1652 7
  • Katherine Inglish, who landed in Maryland in 1677 7
  • Richard Inglish, who landed in Maryland in 1677 7
Inglish Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Edward Inglish, who landed in Virginia in 1702 7
  • John Inglish, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 7
  • Thomas Inglish, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 7
  • Thomas Inglish, who settled in New York in 1775

West Indies Inglish migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 8
Inglish Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mary Inglish, who settled in Barbados in 1635
  • Mary Inglish, aged 17, who arrived in Barbados in 1635 7
  • Miss Mary Inglish, (b. 1618), aged 17, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Inglish (post 1700) +

  • Doug Inglish, American celebrity and portrait photographer
  • Chuck Inglish (b. 1984), stage name of Evan Ingersoll, an American rapper, one half of the Hip-hop duo The Cool Kids


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  6. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  7. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  9. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm


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