Kinser History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Kinser 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 Kinser may have taken the name from a place name. Still other instances of Kinser 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 Kinser family

The surname Kinser 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 Kinser family

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

Kinser Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Kinser include Kinsey, Kynsei, Kynsey, Kinzie, Kincey, Kingsley and others.

Early Notables of the Kinser 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 Kinser Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kinser Ranking

In the United States, the name Kinser is the 7,269^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 5

Kinser migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Kinser Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Nickel Kinser, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1730 6
John Jacob Kinser, aged 28, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737 6
Jacob Kinser, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1762 6

Kinser Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jacob Kinser, aged 58, who immigrated to the United States, in 1894
Acel Kinser, aged 21, who landed in America, in 1895
Heinrich Kinser, aged 30, who landed in America from Berlin, in 1899

Kinser Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Wolfgang Kinser, who landed in America, in 1903
Mrs. William F. Kinser, aged 34, who settled in America, in 1907
William F. Kinser, aged 35, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
Barbara Kinser, aged 17, who settled in America, in 1908

Contemporary Notables of the name Kinser (post 1700) +

Holly Kinser (b. 1965), American lobbyist
Mark Kinser (b. 1964), retired American sprint car racing driver
Kraig Kinser (b. 1984), American race car driver
Sheldon Kinser (1942-1988), American race-car driver
Steve Kinser (b. 1954), American professional sprint car racer
Sergeant Elbert Luther Kinser (1922-1945), United States Marine who received the Medal of Honor in 1945

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
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)