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Show ContentsInsley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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Early Origins of the Insley family

The surname Insley 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 Insley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Insley 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 Insley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Insley Spelling Variations

Although the name, Insley, 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 Insley 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 Insley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Insley Ranking

In the United States, the name Insley is the 17,722nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

United States Insley 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 Insley family name Insley, or who bore a variation of the surname were

Insley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Andrew Insley, who landed in Maryland in 1663 6
Insley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Thomas H. Insley, aged 24, who landed in America, in 1919
  • Minnie Insley, aged 32, who landed in America from Birmingham, England, in 1920
  • Sarah Ann Elizabeth Insley, aged 41, who settled in America from Birmingham, England, in 1920
  • Alfred A. Insley, aged 34, who immigrated to the United States from Birmingham, England, in 1920
  • Elsie Insley, aged 18, who settled in America from Grimsby, England, in 1920
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Insley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Insley Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Isaiah T Insley, who arrived in Canada in 1830
  • William Insley, who landed in Canada in 1831

Australia Insley migration to Australia +

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

Insley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Insley, English convict from Warwick, who was transported aboard the "Agincourt" on July 6, 1844, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 7
  • Edward Insley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Anna Maria" in 1849 8
  • Lorenzo Insley, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Navarino" in 1849 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Insley (post 1700) +

  • Capt. Martain H. Insley, American Confederate officer, eponym of Fort Insley in Fort Scott, Kansas
  • William Henry Insley (b. 1870), American businessman, founder of The Insley Manufacturing Company, a heavy construction equipment company in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1907
  • Trevor Insley (b. 1977), former American football wide receiver
  • Deborah Insley Dingell, American Democratic Party politician, Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1996; Member of Democratic National Committee from Michigan, 2004-08 10
  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  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. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. 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)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. 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)
  7. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Agincourt voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1844 with 226 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agincourt/1844
  8. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The ANNA MARIA 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849AnnaMaria.htm
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) NAVARINO 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Navarino.htm
  10. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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