Surname Kingsley - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling the Kingsley Legacy: Insights from My iGENEA DNA Test

My iGENEA DNA test has opened up a fascinating window into the historical, geographical, and cultural context of my Kingsley lineage. With a myriad of scientific findings related to ancestry, migration patterns, and genetic diversity, I am now able to trace the origins of the Kingsley name back to northwestern Europe and further, drawing an incredibly detailed picture of my family’s past.

J. Kingsley

Kingsley: What does the surname Kingsley mean?

The surname Kingsley has a number of interesting possible origins. It could be derived from a location in England or Wales, such as Kingsley in Cheshire, Kingsley in Gloucestershire, or Kingsley in Hampshire. Alternatively, the surname could refer to a many whose father was the king (i.e. someone whose name included the element "king") or someone who held the position of King's Lea, which was the name given to the area of land owned directly by the king. It could also be derived from the Old English phrase cyninges leah, which referred to a clearing of land belonging to the king.

The surname Kingsley could also refer to someone from the powerful and influential Kingsley family, who originated in the North West of England around 1090 AD. The family first appears in records in the sixteenth century and members of the family were known to be merchants, landowners and industrialists in the early years, with the family later becoming important figures in politics. Additionally, Kingsley is also a popular given name, which may account for instances of the surname being passed down to generations in certain families.

All in all, the surname Kingsley likely originated from the Old English term cyninges leah, and has since been diversified in its references by time and location. Ultimately, the name Kingsley may be derived from an ancient phrase or a powerful family, giving it a certain relevance and additional intrigue in the modern day.

Kingsley: Where does the name Kingsley come from?

The last name Kingsley is most often associated with England, likely due to the aristocratic English family the Kingsley Barons who trace their ancestry back to the 19th century. Today, the last name Kingsley is most frequently found in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Within the UK, the last name Kingsley is most common in the London Borough of Lambeth, where 6.9 people per 10,000 have the last name Kingsley. In the UK as a whole, the last name is barely in the top 0.06% of the most common surnames.

In the United States, Kingsley is most common in New Jersey where it ranks as the 189th-most-common last name, followed by New York and Florida. In general, the last name Kingsley is considered rare in the United States, where the name is ranked 3, FN2, 38, 835th in the country.

In Canada, Kingsley is the 765th most common surname, and in Australia it is the 635th most common surname. In New Zealand, the last name Kingsley is the 515th most common surname.

Overall, the last name Kingsley is most common in the UK, but other countries like the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand also have a considerable population with the last name Kingsley.

Variations of the surname Kingsley

The surname Kingsley is an English patronymic name derived from the given name King. It originates from the Old English word "cyning" which translates to "king" or "leader". Variant spellings of the surname Kingsley include Kingsleigh, Kingsly, Kingslee, Kingslay, Kingsely and Kingesly.

In the United States, some variant spellings of the surname Kingsley have developed. Kinsley, Kinsel, Kinsell, Kinsella, Kinslow, Kingslow and Kyngeslee all with the same heritage as Kingsley.

Other surnames of the same origin include the anglicised forms of King, Kyng and Kynge, as well as Angeleski, Angleski, Englesky, An’gleski, Kynsley, Reysky, Reisky, Angeltzi, Anglewicz and Anglesic.

In Ireland, variants of the name appear originally as Anglicized forms of the Gaelic or Irish name Mac an Gleasai, which means "son of the physician". The variants of this name include MacKingly and MacAnglese.

The name Kingsley was adopted by early immigrants to Canada, Australia and New Zealand where some surname variants include Kingslea, Kingslie, Kinsley and others.

In Scotland, the name Kingsley was first found in the counties of Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbright, where Kingslie is common.

Famous people with the name Kingsley

• Ben Kingsley: Sir Ben Kingsley is an English actor who has won an Academy Award, multiple BAFTA Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. He is best known for his award-winning performances in films such as Gandhi (1982), Schindler's List (1993) and Sexy Beast (2000).
• Misha Kingsley: Misha Kingsley is an American actor and film director. She is best known for her appearance on the HBO series The Sopranos, in which she played Dr. Jennifer Melfi, and her directorial debut with the sitcom The Comeback.
• Oliver Kingsley: Oliver Kingsley is a British actor who is best known for his role as the lead character in the science fiction show Primeval. He also appears in the television show Jericho and the movie The Oxford Murders.
• Vere Kingsley: Vere Kingsley is a British actor and writer, best known for his role as Stephen Ward in the television miniseries The Trial of Christine Keeler. He was included in the 2011 Recurring Actor category in the BAFTA Craft Award nominations.
• Molly Kingsley: Molly Kingsley is an English actress who is best known for her roles in the television series Poirot and Midsomer Murders, and her appearances in the films V for Vendetta and Amazing Grace.
• Henry Kingsley: Henry Kingsley was an English novelist and journalist, best known for his novel The Hillyars and the Burtons, written in collaboration with his brother Charles. His politically and socially progressive works raised public awareness of rural poverty in late Victorian England.

Other surnames

Kingsland