Show ContentsMinsale History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the Anglo-Saxon name Minsale come from when the family resided in the parish of Minshull, which was located five miles from Nantwich in the county of Cheshire. This parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was known as Maneshale. 1

Early Origins of the Minsale family

The surname Minsale was first found in Cheshire at Minshull Vernon. "The manor belonged anciently to the Vernons, from whom it passed to the family of Aldeton, sometimes called Oldington and Oulton; it was subsequently divided among the Starkies, Newtons, and Minshulls." 2

Later some of the family were found at Alsager, again in Cheshire. "The manor [of Alsager] was at an early period in the possession of the Vernon family, and subsequently in that of the family of Minshull." 2

Early History of the Minsale family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Minsale research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1359, 1560, 1608, 1627, 1638, 1643, 1662, 1674, 1686 and 1728 are included under the topic Early Minsale History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Minsale Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Minsale has been recorded under many different variations, including Minshull, Minshall, Minshaw, Mynshawe, Mynshewe and many more.

Early Notables of the Minsale family

Notables of the family at this time include Richard Minshull or Minshall (died 1686), an English academic, Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge (1643-1686); and John Minsheu (or Minshew) (1560-1627), English lexicographer who taught languages in London, his dictionary "Guide to Tongues" provides equivalents of eleven languages and is a valuable reference...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Minsale Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Minsale family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Minsale or a variant listed above: Thomas Minshall and his wife Margaret who settled in Pennsylvania in 1682; John Minshall who settled in Philadelphia in 1823 and Richard Minshall who settled in Maryland in 1680..



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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