Find out how popular the last name Glinsey is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Glinsey.

Glinsey, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Glinsey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Glinsey in America

Glinsey is the 101247th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Glinsey surname appeared 178 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Glinsey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Glinsey to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Glinsey

The surname Glinsey has its origins in the Scottish Highlands, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic word "glinne," meaning a small valley or glen, suggesting that the name's earliest bearers may have lived in or near a secluded valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the year 1296, where a Donald Glinsay is mentioned as a landowner in the region of Argyll. This provides evidence of the name's existence during the medieval period.

In the 16th century, historical records indicate that the Glinseys were prominent landowners in the area around Loch Lomond, with their holdings centered around the village of Glinse, which likely contributed to the name's spelling variation.

An interesting historical figure bearing the Glinsey name was Sir James Glinsey, a renowned Scottish soldier who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. His bravery and loyalty to the cause were well-documented in contemporary chronicles.

Moving forward to the 17th century, the Glinseys expanded their influence and landholdings into the neighboring regions of Perthshire and Stirlingshire. One notable member of the family during this time was Alexander Glinsey (1625-1699), a respected scholar and theologian who served as the minister of the parish of Killin.

In the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with the exploits of Captain William Glinsey (1818-1892), a Scottish explorer and adventurer who led several expeditions to the Arctic regions. His detailed accounts of these voyages were widely published and contributed significantly to the understanding of the Arctic at the time.

While the Glinsey surname is relatively uncommon today, its rich history and Scottish heritage continue to be a source of pride for those who bear it, serving as a reminder of their ancestors' enduring spirit and connection to the rugged landscapes of the Highlands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Glinsey

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Glinsey.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Glinsey was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Glinsey has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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