Show ContentsTisdale History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient roots of the Tisdale family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Tisdale comes from when the family lived in the area known as Teesdale found in the counties of Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire. Tisdale is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. During the Middle Ages, as society became more complex, individuals needed a way to be distinguishable from others. Toponymic surnames were developed as a result of this need. Various features in the landscape were used to distinguish people from one another. In this case the original bearers of the surname Tisdale were named due to their close proximity to the river Tees, which flowed between Yorkshire and Durham.

Early Origins of the Tisdale family

The surname Tisdale was first found in Durham where Walter de Tesedale was listed 1235-1236. A few years later, Mariota de Tesdale was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumberland (Cumbria) in 1332 and later again, Thomas Tesdall was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1525. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included William tie Tesedal, Yorkshire. Henry de Tesdale was Prior of Finchale in 1295. The source History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham included Hugh de Tesedale, 1350 and later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included Johannes de Tesedale. 2

Early History of the Tisdale family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tisdale research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1547, 1556, 1563, 1570, 1579, 1581, 1610, 1613, 1646, 1669, 1706, 1711 and 1735 are included under the topic Early Tisdale History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tisdale Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Tisdale has appeared include Teasdale, Tisdale, Tisdell, Teesdale, Tisdall and others.

Early Notables of the Tisdale family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • William Tisdale or Tisdall (born circa 1570), an English musician and composer
  • Thomas Tesdale, Teasdale or Tisdale (1547-1610), was an English 'co-founder of Pembroke College, Oxford,' born at Stanford Dingley, Berkshire, son of Thomas Tesdale (d. 1556), by his second wife, Joan...

Tisdale Ranking

In the United States, the name Tisdale is the 3,034th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 3

Ireland Migration of the Tisdale family to Ireland

Some of the Tisdale family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 113 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Tisdale migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Tisdale arrived in North America very early:

Tisdale Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Tisdale, who landed in Massachusetts in 1636 4
Tisdale Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Lawrence Tisdale, who arrived in America in 1700 4
  • Thomas Tisdale, who landed in Virginia in 1706 4
  • Margaret, James, and Jane Tisdale, who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1763
Tisdale Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • W Tisdale, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
  • John Tisdale, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from England, in 1893
  • Louise Tisdale, aged 24, who settled in America from London, in 1893
  • W P Tisdale, aged 52, who immigrated to the United States, in 1893
  • Miss Tisdale, aged 17, who landed in America, in 1895
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Tisdale Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • William Tisdale, aged 58, who landed in America from Shrewsbury, in 1902
  • Emily L. Tisdale, aged 26, who landed in America, in 1908
  • E. B. Tisdale, aged 25, who landed in America, in 1909
  • Nell Tisdale, aged 28, who landed in America, in 1910
  • William D. Tisdale, aged 35, who settled in America, in 1912
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Tisdale migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Tisdale Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Ephraim Tisdale U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 5
  • Mr. Ephraim Tisdale U.E. born in Freetown, Massachusetts, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he relocated to Ontario in 1808 5
  • Mr. Henry Tisdale U.E. born in Freetown, Massachusetts, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 5
Tisdale Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Frederick Walker Tisdale, aged 33, who immigrated to Toranto, Canada, in 1907
  • Edward Tisdale, aged 38, who settled in Beaverton, Ontario, Canada, in 1914
  • David R. Tisdale, aged 49, who settled in Simcoe, Ont., Canada, in 1916

New Zealand Tisdale migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Tisdale Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • George Tisdale, aged 29, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1876
  • Elizabeth Tisdale, aged 28, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1876

Contemporary Notables of the name Tisdale (post 1700) +

  • Keith Tisdale, American actor, known for his roles in Criminal Minds
  • Charles B. Tisdale (b. 1933), American Democratic Party politician, Democratic Candidate for Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut, 1981 (primary), 1983
  • Ashley Michelle Tisdale (b. 1985), American MTV Movie Award winning actress, known for her role in Phineas and Ferb (2007-2014)
  • Ryland Dillard Tisdale (1894-1942), American World War II Commander, recipient of the U.S. Navy Cross, eponym of the USS Tisdale (DE-33)
  • Vice Admiral Mahlon Street Tisdale (1890-1972), United States Navy officer awarded two Navy Crosses
  • Jennifer Kelly Tisdale (b. 1981), American actress and singer, sister of Ashley
  • Mrs. A. D. Tisdale, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Louisiana, 1952
  • Thad Tisdale, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Arkansas 5th District, 1948
  • Nelson G. Tisdale (1901-1992), American Republican politician; Member of Michigan State House of Representatives, 1960-70 (Midland County 1960-64, 103rd District 1965-70)
  • M. N. Tisdale, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 1912
  • ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Arizona
  • Mr. William Esley Tisdale, American Chief Water Tender Permanent from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 6


Suggested Readings for the name Tisdale +

  • The Descendants of John Tisdale (1614-1675) Colonial Massachusetts by Robert L. Tisdale.
  • Meet the Tisdales: Descendants of John Tisdale of Taunton, Mass., 1634-1980 by Rosa D. Tisdale.

  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)
  5. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  6. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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