This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Lindsey.' Lindsey, a parish in Suffolk; no doubt it means the 'linden-isle.' Probably other spots are so called. A division of Lincolnshire is still called the 'Parts of Lindsey.' The instances below are widely separated, and point to more than one spot so called.

Walter de Lyndesay, 56 Henry III: Nicolson and Burn's History Westm. and Cumb.

Thomas de Lyndesey, Derbyshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Henry de Lindeseye, Kent, ibid.

Robert de Lindesay, Nottinghamshire, ibid.

William de Lyndeseye, Northamptonshire, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

William de Lyndesaie, 11 Edward I: Nicolson and Burn's History Westm. and Cumb.

Willelmus de Lyndesay, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Jacobus de Lyndesay, 1379: ibid.

1546. Ralph Brooke and Elizabeth Lynseye: Marriage Lic. (London).

1793. Married — William Ball and Margaret Lindsey: St. George, Hanover Square.

The name is territorial. Said to be of Norman origin, from De Limesay, Pays de Caux near Pavilly, north of Rouen. It is also said to be from Lindsay, a division of Lincolnshire (in AS. Chron.: Lindisse, A.D. 627; Lindissi, 678; Lindesse, 838; Lindesige, 993). Wyntoun (V. 5, p. 259, S.T.S. ed.) referring to the origin of the family expresses a prudent uncertainty:

"Off Inglande coyme be Lynddissay

Mare of J'aim I can noucht say."

The first of the name in Scotland is Sir Walter de Lindeseya, who appears as one of the witnesses in the Inquisitio of Earl David concerning the possessions and rights of the see of Glasgow, a. 1124 (REG., 1). His great-grandson, Sir William de Lindeseia, was one of the hostages for King William the Lion, 1174 (Annals, p. 194). There have been nearly 200 variations in the spelling of the name (Sc. Peer., III, p. 1), and Lord Lindsay (Family of Lindsay, v. I, p. 3) gives eighty-four spellings. See under Maclintock.

Alternative forms of this name are Lindsy and Linsey: they are all numerous in Ulster, especially in Counties Down and Antrim. In the former Linchey has also been recorded as a modern synonym.

No doubt the majority of these are of Scottish origin-Lindsay is the name of a great Scottish clan: several such were among the settlers in Cos. Tyrone and Fermanagh at the time of the Plantation of Ulster (c. 1608). But it is important to remember that Ó Loingsigh, often anglicized Lindsay in Ulster (Lynch in other provinces) is the name of an important sept whose chief was Lord of Dalriada (north east Ulster) up to the time of the Anglo—Norman invasion: what proportion of Ulster Lindsays are of this descent cannot now be determined. The fact that some MacClintocks changed their name to Lindsay adds to this difficulty. The Armagh hearth money rolls (1664-6) include O'Linsye as well as Linsay and Lindsay, the last two being also in those of Co. Monaghan. O'Linsey, O'Lenshie, etc. occur frequently in the Tudor Fiants, but as they are clearly used synonymously with O'Linche (i.e. Lynch), usually in a Munster connexion, little relevant information can be gleaned from them: in the few cases which relate to Ulster they presumably represent the name now known as Lindsay. A number of Lindsays have held leading positions in Ireland since Robert Lindsay was High Sheriff of Co. Tyrone in 1677, the most, important being Thomas Lindsay who, as well as being Archbishop of Armagh from 1714 to 1724 was also appointed Lord Justice in 1714. Perhaps it may be of interest to add that the Anglo-Norman name de Lindesaye occurs as a Dublin juror in the year 1292.

Belonging to 1 Lindsey (a div. of Lincs), occurring in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as Lindessi, Lindesse, Lindes-ig = (apparently) the ‘Isle of Lind-um,’ the Roman name of Lincoln (v. Lincoln), which is embraced in Lindsey: alternatively, Lind may be the Old Teutonic pers. name = ‘serpent' (it cannot refer to Old English lind, ‘lime-tree,’ because lind is a fem. noun with genit. in -e (not -es).

2 Lindsey (Suffolk) = Lind’s Island [Old Teutonic pers. name Lind (m.), serpent, genit. Lindes + Old English íg = Old Norse ey, island, waterside]

= Lindsay, Lindsey, q.v.

The majority of Lindsays in Ireland descend from the great Scottish clan of that name; but in Ulster Ó Loingsigh, elsewhere anglicized as Lynch, has often been made Linsey and this in turn became Lindsay.

To add to the difficulty in determining the origin of an Ulster Linsay some families of MacClintock adopted that surname. SIF 106

Place name in Lincolnshire, England.

(Scottish, Irish) The man from Limesay or Lindesey (lime tree or linden isle), in Normandy; grandson of the sailor.

This distinguished family, who boasted of twenty Earls of Crawford, extending from the year 1398 to 1808, and whose deeds have been recorded by a noble member of the house, in his "Lives of the Lindsays," were in all probability of English origin, and the name appears to have been derived from the division of the county of Lincoln still called the "Parts of Lindsey," though some genealogists deduce it from the manor of Lindsey in Essex.

Local: from the manor of Lindsay in Essex. The family settled in Scotland, temp. Malcolm Canmore.

Local. Sir William Dugdale says this surname is local, and was first assumed by the proprietors of the lands and manor of Lindsay, in the county of Essex, England. One of the Lindsays having contracted a friendship with Malcom Canmore, when in England, went with him to Scotland, and was the progenitor of the Lindsays in that country. The eastern part of Lincolnshire was originally called Lindsey, from the place abounding with linden—trees.

Or De Limesi, a branch of the baronial Norman house of De Toesni, of Toesni and Conches. This was one of the sovereign families which formerly ruled in Norway from immemorial ages, but were dispossessed by Harold Harfager c. 860. Malahulcius, who accompanied Rollo, his nephew, had issue, Hugo, Lord of Cavalcamp in Neustria, whose sons were, Ralph or Ranulph, and Hugo, Archbishop of Rouen 942-980, the latter of whom gave Toesni to his brother Ralph. The grandson of Ralph, also named Ralph, was c. 1011 appointed Castellan of Tillieres, jointly with Nigel Viscount of Coutances. He bad issue, Roger de Toesni, surnamed D’Espagne, on account of his prowess against the Saracens in Spain, progenitor of the De Toesnis, hereditary standard- bearers of Normandy, barons of Toesni and Conches, Normandy, and of Stafford and Belvoir in England, ancestors of the English houses of Cholmondeley, Egerton, Gresley, and others. Roger D’Espagne’s brother, Hugh de Toesni, was surnamed De Limesay from his Norman seigneurie, and was living 1060. He had several sons, who accompanied the Conqueror, viz.: 1. Ralph de Limesay, baron of Wolverley, Warwick, 1086, whose barony ultimately passed in part to the Scottish line of Limesay; 2. Baldric de L., who held lands from the Earl of Chester 1086; and was father of Walter de Limesay or Lindesay, who obtained grants in Scotland, and witnessed the inquisition made in 1116 into the possessions of the see of Glasgow. From this baron descended the great house of Lindsay, Limesy, or Limesay in Scotland, Earls of Crawford and Balcarres, Dukes of Montrose (see Lord Lindsay’s Lives of the Lindsays); while various branches in England continued to bear the same name under various forms, and with armorial identifications evidencing their common origin.

(Scotch), Linzee (New England), Lindesig, Lime-tree isle.

A location name in Essex.

Lindsay: not of Scottish ancestors; they were originally De Limesay from the Pays de Caux, near Pavilly, north of Rouen. Radolf de Limesay, thought to have been sister’s son to the Conqueror, was the first of the stock to settle in England. David I. brought them to Scotland.