Ensley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Early Origins of the Ensley family

The surname Ensley 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 Ensley family

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

Ensley 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. Ensley 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 Ensley 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 Ensley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ensley Ranking

In the United States, the name Ensley is the 10,235^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Ensley migration to the United States +

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 Ensley, or a spelling variation of the surname include:

Ensley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

George Ensley, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1846 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Ensley (post 1700) +

Jeane Ensley, American Republican candidate for the California State Assembly in 2012
Benjamin Ensley, early American settler to Howard City, Michigan, eponym of Ensley Street
Carol Denise Ensley (b. 1970), birth name of Carol Denise "Niecy" Nash, an American Primetime Emmy Award nominated comedian, model, actress, and producer, known for Clean House (2003), Reno 911! (2003) and Horton Hears a Who! (2008)
Harold Edward Ensley (1912-2005), American radio and television personality, best known for his television program The Sportsman's Friend; named "World Champion of Freshwater Sport Fishing" by Sports Illustrated
John C. Ensley, American politician, Member of North Carolina State House of Representatives from Jackson County, 1897-98
John B. Ensley, American Republican politician, Member of North Carolina State House of Representatives from Jackson County, 1921-22
Charles Ensley, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 2000
Burley Ensley (b. 1881), American Republican politician, Employed thirty years with Auburn Motor Co., automobile manufacturer; DeKalb County Auditor, 1943; Chair of DeKalb County Republican Party, 1944

The Ensley Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: For my country often, for my King always

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/
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)