| ![Show Contents]() Hunslay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The ancestors of the bearers of the Hunslay family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in the settlements of High Hunsley and Low Hunsley in the East Riding of Yorkshire. 1 The surname Hunslay belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Early Origins of the Hunslay familyThe surname Hunslay was first found in Yorkshire, at High Hunsley, a small hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The village dates back to the Domesday Book 2 where it was recorded as Hund(r)eslege and meant "woodland clearing of a man called Hund" 3 "This place appears to have been anciently of more importance than it is at present, many foundations of buildings having been dug up at various times. Upon a hill here, was a beacon that gave name to the largest division of the wapentake." 4 Early History of the Hunslay familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hunslay research. Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hunslay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Hunslay Spelling VariationsUntil quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Hunslay include Hunsley, Hunsly, Hunley, Hunly, Hundsley, Hundsly and others. Early Notables of the Hunslay familyMore information is included under the topic Early Hunslay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Hunslay familySearching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Hunslay or a variant listed above: William Hunsley, who sailed to America in 1753.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
 |
