Find out how popular the first name Ensley has been for the last 27 years (from 1997 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ensley by gender

Based on the last 27 years of data, Ensley is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Ensley being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 305 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Ensley.

The history of the first name Ensley

The name Ensley is of English origin and dates back to the late 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "enne" meaning "one" and "ley" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a single meadow or clearing in a forest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ensley can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, England, where a man named Ensley Woodhouse was baptized in 1592. This provides evidence that the name was in use during the Elizabethan era.

While the name Ensley does not appear to have any direct connections to ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is possible that it was influenced by the Old English name "Aensley," which was derived from the elements "aene" meaning "alone" and "ley" meaning "meadow."

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Ensley. One of the earliest was Ensley Heyrick (1577-1647), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lichfield in the early 17th century.

Another prominent figure was Ensley Moore (1808-1892), an American politician and lawyer who served as the 10th Governor of Alabama from 1857 to 1861. Moore was a staunch supporter of the Confederacy during the American Civil War.

In the realm of sports, Ensley Proctor (1892-1972) was a Canadian ice hockey player who played for the Toronto Blueshirts and the Montreal Canadiens in the early 20th century. He was a member of the Canadiens team that won the Stanley Cup in 1924.

The name Ensley also found its way into the world of literature. Ensley F. Moore (1892-1966) was an American author and poet who published several collections of poetry, including "The Vineyard" and "The House of Quiet."

Finally, Ensley Cunningham (1925-2007) was an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Cunningham Drug Stores chain in Michigan. He was known for his generous philanthropic efforts, particularly in supporting education and medical research.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ensley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ensley, please contact us.

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