Show ContentsLyndley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the name Lyndley date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence in either of the settlements called Linley in Shropshire or Wiltshire, or in one of the places called Lindley in Leicestershire or the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Lyndley is occasionally derived from residence near a limewood or in a clearing where flax was grown. The surname Lyndley belongs to both the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads, and to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees.

Early Origins of the Lyndley family

The surname Lyndley was first found in Yorkshire at Lindley cum Quarmby, a chapelry, in the parish and union of Huddersfield, Upper division of the wapentake of Agbrigg. 1

"The name is derived from Lindley, Yorkshire, which was held (13th cent.) from Roger de Mowbray by knight service, by William de Rodeville or Rudeville, of Normandy. 2 3

The first record of the family found early rolls was Robert de Linleye who was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Bedfordshire. 4 In Somerset, Augustin Lynleye, was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first years of King Edward III's reign.) 5

Early History of the Lyndley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lyndley research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1570, 1599, 1609, 1732, 1758, 1771, 1795, 1799, 1835 and 1865 are included under the topic Early Lyndley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lyndley Spelling Variations

Lyndley has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Lyndley have been found, including Lindlie, Lindly, Lindley, Lindleigh, Lindlee, Lyndley, Lyndly, Lyndlee and many more.

Early Notables of the Lyndley family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Henry Lindley (d. 1609), of Leatherly, Yorkshire, knighted at Offaley on 30 July 1599. He was the third son of Laurence Lindley of Leathley by Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Redman of Harewood Castle. Thomas Linley, the Elder (1732-1795), was an early English musical composer, born at Wells in 1732, and was the son of a carpenter. "Being sent on one occasion to execute some carpentering work at Badminton, the seat of the Duke of Beaufort, he derived such pleasure from listening to the playing and singing of Thomas Chilcot, the organist of Bath Abbey Church...
Another 134 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lyndley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lyndley family to Ireland

Some of the Lyndley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Lyndley migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Lyndleys to arrive on North American shores:

Lyndley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Lyndley, who arrived in New England in 1722 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Lyndley (post 1700) +

  • Sir Robert Lyndley Sparkes (1929-2006), Australian politician, President of the Queensland National Party from 1970 to 1990
  • Lyndley Alan Cravens, American botanist


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
  3. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  6. 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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