Kinsey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Kinsey 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 Kinsey may have taken the name from a place name. Still other instances of Kinsey 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 Kinsey family

The surname Kinsey 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 Kinsey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kinsey research.

Kinsey Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person’s name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Kinsey family name include Kinsey, Kynsei, Kynsey, Kinzie, Kincey, Kingsley and others.

Early Notables of the Kinsey family (pre 1700)

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. [4] Charles Kingsley (1819-1875), English author.

Kinsey Ranking

In the United States, the name Kinsey is the 2,092^nd most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. [5]

 Kinsey migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Kinsey surname or a spelling variation of the name include: 

Kinsey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Edward Kinsey, who landed in Virginia in 1637 [6]
• Welch Kinsey, who arrived in Maryland in 1653 [6]
• Hugh Kinsey, who landed in Maryland in 1659 [6]
• Paul Kinsey, who landed in Maryland in 1661 [6]
• Sarah Kinsey, who arrived in Maryland in 1662 [6]

Kinsey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Christian Kinsey, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1761 [6]

Kinsey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• C W Kinsey, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 [6]
• Thomas Kinsey, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1874 [6]
• Samuel Kinsey, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1876 [6]

 Kinsey migration to Australia+

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

Kinsey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. James Kinsey, (Mckenzie), (b. 1777), aged 30, Irish labourer who was convicted in Sligo, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the “Duke of Portland” in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [7]
• Mr. John Kinsey, (b. 1783), aged 24, Irish shoe maker who was convicted in Sligo, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the “Duke of Portland” in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [7]
• Mr. John Kinsey, British convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Competitor”18th March 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land) [8]
• Mr. John Kinsey who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “England”on 31st March 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’sLand) [9]
• David Kinsey, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship “Delhi” in 1839