Show ContentsAyling History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Ayling is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes from the given name Ayling, an ancient Anglo-Saxon personal name derived from the Old English word ædeling which means prince, a derivative of ædel which means noble.

Early Origins of the Ayling family

The surname Ayling was first found in Dorset, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Ayling family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ayling research. Another 178 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1006, 1086, 1176, 1177, 1273, 1290, 1296, 1621 and 1769 are included under the topic Early Ayling History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ayling Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Ayling has been spelled many different ways, including Ayling, Aling, Aeoeling, Adeling, Aoeling, Aedeling, Ayline, Aylyng and many more.

Early Notables of the Ayling family

More information is included under the topic Early Ayling Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Ayling migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Aylings to arrive in North America:

Ayling Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Ann Ayling, who settled in Philadelphia with three children in 1820
  • John Ayling, who settled in Philadelphia in 1876

Australia Ayling migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ayling Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Ayling, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince George" in 1838 [1]
  • Sarah Ayling, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince George" in 1838 [1]
  • Mrs. Charlotte Ayling, (b. 1795), aged 51, English laundress who was convicted in Chichester, West Sussex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 22nd January 1846, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), she died in 1848 [2]
  • John Ayling, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Simlah" in 1849 [3]
  • Mr. John Ayling, (b. 1821), aged 27, English convict who was convicted in Lewes, Sussex, England for 10 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 1st January 1850, arriving in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, he died in 1886 [4]

New Zealand Ayling 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:

Ayling Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Nathaniel Ayling, aged 42, a shoemaker, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1875 [5]
  • Frank Ayling, aged 11, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1875 [5]
  • Arthur Ayling, aged 9, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1875 [5]
  • Stanley Ayling, aged 7, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1875 [5]
  • Mary Ayling, aged 4, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1875 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ayling (post 1700) +

  • Augustus Davis Ayling (1840-1918), American Republican politician, Adjutant General of New Hampshire, 1879-1907 [6]
  • William Ayling (1766-1826), English professional cricketer
  • Jonathan Richard "Jon" Ayling (b. 1967), retired English cricketer who played from 1987 to 1993
  • Luke David Ayling (b. 1991), English football defender
  • Mr. Robert John Ayling C.B.E. (b. 1946), born in Battersea, British Chairman of the Board for HM Courts and Tribunals Service, was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for public service [7]
  • Sir William Bock Ayling (1867-1946), British civil servant and judge who served on the bench of the Madras High Court from 1912 to 1924
  • Louise Ayling (b. 1987), New Zealand silver medalist rower at the 2010 Rowing World Championships
  • Dennis "Denny" Ayling BSC (1917-1998), British Academy Award winning cinematographer for the 1979 movie Alien
  • Cyril Edgar Ayling (1910-1993), Argentine cricketer
  • Robert John "Bob" Ayling (b. 1946), British businessman, Chief Executive of British Airways from 1996 to 2000
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Cornwall
  • Alfred Douglas Charles Ayling (d. 1942), British Stoker 1st Class aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking [8]
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Frank R Ayling (b. 1922), English Canteen Assistant serving for the Navy Army & Air Force Institute from England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [9]
  • Mr. Ronald Ayling (b. 1920), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [9]
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. George Edwin Ayling (d. 1912), aged 22, English Assistant Vegetable Cook from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [10]


  1. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PRINCE GEORGE 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838PrinceGeorge-London.htm
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SIMLAH 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Simlah.htm
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/australasia
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  7. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
  8. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
  9. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  10. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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