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TINSLEY Family History

This interesting surname, of Anglo-Saxon origin with spellings Tynsley, Tinsley, Tynsely, Tynsey, Tinsey, Tinsy and probably others, is locational. It originates from the village of Tinsley, near Rotherham in the West Riding of Yorkshire, or Tinsley in Essex. Both derive from the pre 7th century personal name "Tynni", and the word "leah" meaning an encloisure in the forest cleared for agricuture, or more literally - a farm! Tynni's farm". Locational surnames, such as this, were usually acquired either by the local lord of the manor and his descendants, or by those former inhabitants of a place who had moved to another area, and were thereafter, best identified by the name of their birthplace.