Linsley

This interesting name is English in origin and is a dialectual variant of a locational name, Lindley, from either of two places in West Yorkshire or from Lindley in Shropshire and Wilts, also called from the Olde English pre 7th Century "lin" flax and "leah" a clearing. However, the other Lindley in Yorkshire and the one in Leicester derive from the Olde English "lind" lime trees, "leah", thus the former denoting a clearing where flax grew and the latter lime trees. Two early recordings found in Yorkshire are of one Rogerus Linsley, son of Thomas Linsley who was christened at Hutton Bushel in 1595 and also of Agnes Linsley who was christened at Easingwold in 1610. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Sinard de Lindele, which was dated 1204 Assize Rolls of Yorkshire, during the reign of King John "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.