Endsley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Early Origins of the Endsley family

The surname Endsley 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 Endsley family

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

Endsley Spelling Variations

During the era when a person's name, tribe and posterity was one of his most important possessions, many different spellings were found in the archives examined. Endsley occurred in many references, and spelling variations of the name found included Ainslie, Ainsley, Ansley, Anslie, Aynslie, Aynsley, Aynsly, Aynsle, Ainley, Endlsley and many more.

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

Endsley Ranking

In the United States, the name Endsley is the 8,205^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Endsley family

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 illness and the elements, were buried at sea. In North America, early immigrants bearing the family name Endsley, or a spelling variation of the surname include: Hugh Ainslie who settled in New York City in 1822; George Ainslee, who arrived in America in 1809; John Ainslee, aged 47, arrived in New York in 1812.

Contemporary Notables of the name Endsley (post 1700) +

Michael Dee Endsley (1962-2023), American politician and legislator, Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly (2011-2015)
Dr. Mica Endsley, current Chief Scientist of the United States Air Force, former President and CEO of SA Technologies (1997-2013)
Robert Endsley (b. 1962), American professional baseball player
Mike Endsley (b. 1962), American politician, Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly (2011-)
Shane Endsley, American trumpeter, drummer, and composer
Melvin Endsley (1934-2004), American musician, singer, and songwriter best known for writing the song "Singing the Blues"
William T. Endsley, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 2000 6
Thomas L. Endsley, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1944 6
James W. Endsley, American Republican politician, Member of Pennsylvania State Senate 36th District, 1911-18 6

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html