Hinchley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Hinchley

What does the name Hinchley mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Hinchley comes from when the family resided at Hinckley, in Leicestershire. The place-name Hinckley is derived from the Old English personal name Hynca, and leah, an Old English word that meant "forest clearing."

Early Origins of the Hinchley family

The surname Hinchley was first found in Leicestershire at Hinckley, a market town and parish that dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was listed as Hinchelie. 1

"This place was created a barony soon after the Conquest, and was held by Hugh de Grentismenil, seneschal of England in the reigns of William Rufus and Henry I., who erected a stately castle and a church, and founded a small priory of Benedictine monks, which, before 1173, was granted as a cell to the abbey of Lyra, in Normandy, by Robert Blanchmaines, Earl of Leicester." 2

One of the first records of the family was Anfred de Hinkelai who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Leicestershire in 1176. A few years later, Roger de Hinckelee was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Wiltshire in 1208 and later again, John de Hynkeley was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Staffordshire in 1332. 3

Early History of the Hinchley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hinchley research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1322, 1617, 1618, 1634, 1680, 1686, 1695 and 1706 are included under the topic Early Hinchley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hinchley Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Hinchley include Hinkley, Hinkler, Hincle, Hinchley, Hinckley and others.

Early Notables of the Hinchley family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hinchley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hinchley migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hinchley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Mary Hinchley, (b. 1814), aged 18, English convict who was convicted in Warwickshire, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 14th July 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1875 4
Margaret Hinchley, aged 20, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Lord of the Isles" 5

Sources +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fanny
South Australian Register Monday 14th August 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Lord of the Isles 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/jamesfernie1854.shtml