Show ContentsTisdel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Tisdel surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in the area known as Teesdale found in the counties of Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire. Tisdel is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. During the Middle Ages, as society became more complex, individuals needed a way to be distinguishable from others. Toponymic surnames were developed as a result of this need. Various features in the landscape were used to distinguish people from one another. In this case the original bearers of the surname Tisdel were named due to their close proximity to the river Tees, which flowed between Yorkshire and Durham.

Early Origins of the Tisdel family

The surname Tisdel was first found in Durham where Walter de Tesedale was listed 1235-1236. A few years later, Mariota de Tesdale was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumberland (Cumbria) in 1332 and later again, Thomas Tesdall was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1525. [1]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included William tie Tesedal, Yorkshire. Henry de Tesdale was Prior of Finchale in 1295. The source History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham included Hugh de Tesedale, 1350 and later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included Johannes de Tesedale. [2]

Early History of the Tisdel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tisdel research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1547, 1556, 1563, 1570, 1579, 1581, 1610, 1613, 1646, 1669, 1706, 1711 and 1735 are included under the topic Early Tisdel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tisdel 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 Tisdel include Teasdale, Tisdale, Tisdell, Teesdale, Tisdall and others.

Early Notables of the Tisdel family

Notables of the family at this time include William Tisdale or Tisdall (born circa 1570), an English musician and composer.Thomas Tesdale, Teasdale or Tisdale (1547-1610), was an English 'co-founder of Pembroke College, Oxford,' born at Stanford Dingley, Berkshire, son of Thomas Tesdale (d. 1556), by his second wife, Joan (Knapp.) "He was brought up by his uncle, Richard Tesdale, a sadler of Abingdon, and was in 1563 the first...
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tisdel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Tisdel family to Ireland

Some of the Tisdel family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 113 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Tisdel 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:

Tisdel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Lawrence Tisdel, who landed in America in 1700 [3]
Tisdel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • W. P. Tisdel, aged 50, who arrived in America, in 1892
Tisdel Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Sarah F. Tisdel, aged 61, who arrived in America, in 1908
  • Nelson Tisdel, aged 9, who arrived in America, in 1909
  • Fred M. Tisdel, aged 40, who arrived in America, in 1909
  • Edine F. Tisdel, aged 32, who arrived in America, in 1910
  • Mrs. Willard P. Tisdel, aged 63, who arrived in America, in 1911
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Tisdel (post 1700) +

  • Jeff Tisdel (b. 1956), American head coach at Sierra College, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  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. 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)


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