Kinzey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Kinzey

What does the name Kinzey mean?

The Kinzey surname has several possible origins: no doubt some instances of this surname evolved from an Old English personal name made up of two elements, "cyne," or "royal" and "sige," or "victory." In Yorkshire, it is generally thought that bearers of Kinzey may have taken the name from a place name. Still other instances of Kinzey probably derive from a variation of the Kingsley surname. In any case, it would seem that this surname predates the Norman invasion of Britain.

Early Origins of the Kinzey family

The surname Kinzey was first found in Gloucestershire where the first on record was William Kynsei, who was recorded in the "Inquisitiones post mortem" for Gloucestershire in 1306. 1

Another source notes the family could have originated in Yorkshire, specifically at Kilnsea (Kilnsay, Kilnsey), a parish in the East Riding or at Kilnsay, a hamlet in the parish of Burnsall, in the West Riding. 2

Other early records show William Kynnesay in 1471, as vicar of Hitcham, County Norfolk. 3 The Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1525 include George Kynsey and Margaret Kynsee was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Stratford, 1584. 1

John de Kemesie was found in the Pipe Rolls for Sussex in 1206 and John de Kemeseye was listed in Huntingdonshire in 1207. 1

William Chinseie (or Kinssee), from Cheshire was registered at Oxford University in 1586 as was John Kynsey of Cheshire in 1602. 2

Early History of the Kinzey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kinzey research. Another 54 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1595, 1619, 1648, 1788, 1797, 1805, 1809, 1812, 1813, 1819, 1827, 1830, 1850, 1851, 1855, 1856, 1864, 1870, 1875, 1876, 1878 and 1892 are included under the topic Early Kinzey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kinzey Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Kinzey were recorded, including Kinsey, Kynsei, Kynsey, Kinzie, Kincey, Kingsley and others.

Early Notables of the Kinzey family

Distinguished members of the family include William Kingsley, D.D. an English Anglican priest, born in London and educated at Magdalen College, Oxford. He was Archdeacon of Canterbury from 1595 until his death on 29 March 1619.William Morgan Kinsey (1788-1851), was a Welsh divine and traveller, born in 1788 at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, the son of Robert Morgan Kinsey, solicitor and banker at Abergavenny, and Caroline Hannah, his wife, daughter of Sir James Harington, bart. He matriculated at Oxford on 28 Nov. 1805, became a scholar of Trinity College, graduated B.A. in 1809, and proceeded M.A. in 1813. 4Charles Kingsley (1819-1875), English author...
Another 210 words (15 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kinzey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kinzey migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Kinzey family emigrate to North America:

Kinzey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Kinzey, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 5

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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)