Kincey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Kincey surname has several possible origins: no doubt some instances of this surname evolved from an Old English personal name made up of two elements, "cyne," or "royal" and "sige," or "victory." In Yorkshire, it is generally thought that bearers of Kincey may have taken the name from a place name. Still other instances of Kincey probably derive from a variation of the Kingsley surname. In any case, it would seem that this surname predates the Norman invasion of Britain.

Early Origins of the Kincey family

The surname Kincey was first found in Gloucestershire where the first on record was William Kynsei, who was recorded in the "Inquisitiones post mortem" for Gloucestershire in 1306. 1

Another source notes the family could have originated in Yorkshire, specifically at Kilnsea (Kilnsay, Kilnsey), a parish in the East Riding or at Kilnsay, a hamlet in the parish of Burnsall, in the West Riding. 2

Other early records show William Kynnesay in 1471, as vicar of Hitcham, County Norfolk. 3 The Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1525 include George Kynsey and Margaret Kynsee was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Stratford, 1584. 1

John de Kemesie was found in the Pipe Rolls for Sussex in 1206 and John de Kemeseye was listed in Huntingdonshire in 1207. 1

William Chinseie (or Kinssee), from Cheshire was registered at Oxford University in 1586 as was John Kynsey of Cheshire in 1602. 2

Early History of the Kincey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kincey research. Another 54 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1595, 1619, 1648, 1788, 1797, 1805, 1809, 1812, 1813, 1819, 1827, 1830, 1850, 1851, 1855, 1856, 1864, 1870, 1875, 1876, 1878 and 1892 are included under the topic Early Kincey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kincey Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Kincey are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Kincey include: Kinsey, Kynsei, Kynsey, Kinzie, Kincey, Kingsley and others.

Early Notables of the Kincey family

Distinguished members of the family include William Kingsley, D.D. an English Anglican priest, born in London and educated at Magdalen College, Oxford. He was Archdeacon of Canterbury from 1595 until his death on 29 March 1619.William Morgan Kinsey (1788-1851), was a Welsh divine and traveller, born in 1788 at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, the son of Robert Morgan Kinsey, solicitor and banker at Abergavenny, and Caroline Hannah, his wife, daughter of Sir James Harington, bart. He matriculated at Oxford on 28 Nov. 1805, became a scholar of Trinity College, graduated B.A. in 1809, and proceeded M.A. in 1813. 4Charles Kingsley (1819-1875), English author...
Another 210 words (15 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kincey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kincey family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Kincey or a variant listed above: Edward Kinsey, who arrived in Virginia in 1637; Catherine Kinsey, who came to Maryland in 1663; David Kinsey, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682 with his wife Magdalen and their two sons aboard one of William Penn's ships, Welch Kinsey, who arrived in Maryland in 1653.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print