This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Annesley,' a parish in Nottinghamshire, near Nottingham. But there is probably a north English local origin also. There is also Ansley, a parish in Warwickshire.

'De Reginal de Anisleg in Anisleg,' Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

Johannes de Anneslegh, Nottinghamshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

John de Annesley, Yorkshire, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

Johannes de Andeslay, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Sir Johne Ainslve, curate of Holy Island, 1544: Raine's History and Antiquities of North Durham.

1730. Married — John Annsley and Bridget Rose: St. George's Chapel, Mayfair.

1751. — John Sharp and Martha Ainsley: ibid.

Most probably from Annesley in Nottinghamshire, England. William de Haneslej who witnessed a charter by Walter, bishop of Glasgow, between 1208—18 (LCD., p. 236) is probably William de Anslee, canon of Glasgow c. 1220 (RMP., p. 1). In 1221 Magister Thomas de Aneslei was one of a number appointed to settle a dispute between the monks of Kelso and the bishop of Glasgow (REG., p. 101; Kelso, 230), and Sir Aymer de Aynesley was one of the knights appointed to settle the law of the marches in 1249 (APS., I, p. 413). Two individuals of this name rendered homage in 1296: (I) John le fiz Johan de Anesleye of Roxburghshire, and Johan de Anesleye of Crucfut of Lanarkshire (Bain, II, p. 199,212). The seal of the former appended to his homage is broken but shows two geese drinking at a fountain and S' Ioh's. se.. Ant.. Adam de Aynesleye was juror on an inquisition held at Roxburgh in 1357 (ibid., III, 1641), and John of Aynesley witnessed a grant of the forest of Eteryk to John Kerre in 1358 (Roxburghe, p. 8). In 1377 Robert II granted to William de Aynysley a charter of the lands of Dolfynston in the sheriffdom of Roxburgh forfeited by John de Aynysley his father (RMS., I, 592). The lands of Dolphingstoun passed, c. 1500, to the Kers of Cessfurd through marriage of Mark Ker with Marjorie Ainslie, daughter and heiress of John Ainslie. Ralph Aynsle produced a remission for being treasonably associated with Alexander, formerly duke of Rothesay, in 1493 (Trials, I, p. 17). John Ainslie, the eminent geographer and land surveyor, was a descendant of the old family, and Robert Ainslie (1766—1838) was a friend and correspondent of Robert Burns. The surname was at one time common in and about Jedburgh, but has now disappeared from there. Anenislie 1598, Ainsley 1689, Ainsloe 1677, Anslie 1567, Ansly 1677, Anysle 1493, Aynisle 1464, Aynsle 1464, Enslie 1685, Henesleis (pl.) 1579.

(English) belonging to Annesley = prob. Æn(n)e’s Lea. [O.E, leáh]. But for the Staffs Annesley, better known as Anslow, v. Anslow.

A parish in co. Nottingham, which was possessed by the family from the reign of the Conqueror, 1079.

From ains, a spring, and fey, a field.

Local. From a town in Nottinghamshire, England, and named, perhaps, from Anclo, a city in Norway, by the free—booters or conquerors of Briton. Annansley, the lea, lying on the Annon.

Or Le Breton. Richard Brito, or the Breton, accompanied Ralph Fitz-Hubert, Viscount of Maine, 1066, and held from him Annesley, Notts, 1086; his son Ralph de Annesley or Brito, with Reginald de Annesley, his son, founded Felley Abbey, Notts, 1152 (Mon. Angl. ii. 56). Reginald granted the church of Annesley to Felley. Ralph de A. joined the barons t. John. Sire Reginald de Annesley (13th cent.) held two fees in Annesley from Ralph de Fressonville. From him descended Francis Annesley, first Viscount Valentia, temp. James I.; and the Earls of Anglesey, Mountnorris, and Annesley.

(English), Anne's field. (variant: Audley.)