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

Tinsley, 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 Tinsley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tinsley in America

Tinsley is the 2361st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tinsley surname appeared 15,442 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Tinsley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tinsley 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 Tinsley

The surname Tinsley has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "tun" meaning town or settlement, and "leah" meaning a clearing or meadow. This suggests that the name originated from a place name, likely referring to a particular town or village with a clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1176, where it is spelled as "Tinesleia". This spelling variation is indicative of the name's evolution over time, reflecting regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

The Tinsley surname is also mentioned in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence during the Norman period.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the Tinsley name was John de Tyndesleye, who was recorded as a landowner in Cheshire in 1260. This variation in spelling further illustrates the fluidity of surnames during that era.

Another early mention of the name can be found in the Lancashire Inquests of 1310, which refers to a Robert de Tyndelegh. The name's association with specific locations, such as Tyndesleye and Tyndelegh, further reinforces its origins as a placename-derived surname.

Over the centuries, the Tinsley surname has been associated with various notable individuals. For example, in the 16th century, William Tinsley (c. 1540-1614) was a prominent English clergyman and author who served as the Vicar of Carshalton in Surrey.

Another notable figure was Thomas Tinsley (1685-1743), an English architect and surveyor who was responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in London during the 18th century.

In the realm of literature, William Tinsley (1831-1902) was a notable English publisher and bookseller who established the publishing firm Tinsley Brothers in London, which published works by several renowned authors of the time.

Moving into the 19th century, Catherine Tinsley (1846-1924) was a prominent English mathematician and pioneering woman in the field of higher education. She was one of the first women to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Finally, in the 20th century, Joseph Tinsley (1913-1993) was an English actor and playwright who had a successful career on stage and in television, appearing in various productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the BBC.

These examples illustrate the enduring presence of the Tinsley surname throughout history, spanning various professions and regions within England, while retaining its roots as a place-derived name from the early medieval period.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tinsley

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

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 Tinsley 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 Tinsley 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 Tinsley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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