Lindsay (/ˈlɪnzi/) is both a
Scottishsurname and a
given name. The given name comes from the Scottish surname and
clan name, which comes from the toponym
Lindsey, which in turn comes from the
Old English toponym Lindesege ("Island of Lind") for the city of
Lincoln, in which Lind is the original
Brittonic form of the name of Lincoln and island refers to Lincoln being an island in the surrounding fenland.[1][2]Lindum Colonia was the Roman name of the settlement which is now the
City of Lincoln in
Lincolnshire. (Lindum Colonia was shortened in Old English to Lindocolina and then Lincylene.)[3]Lindum was a
Latinized form of a
nativeBrittonic name which has been
reconstructed as *Lindon, which means "pool" or "lake" (cf. the second part of the name
Dublin and
modern Welshllyn)[4] and refers to the
Brayford Pool.
In the late 19th century, the surnames Lindsay and Lindsey began to be used as given names, at first only as masculine names. They remained typically masculine until the 1960s in
Britain and the 1970s in the
United States. They are both now unisex names in the United States. In Australia, New Zealand, and Scotland, Lindsay remains popular for masculine use and Lindsey has mainly become feminine.[2][1][5] As a first name, Lindsey was the 570th most popular name for girls born in the United States in 2014, while Lindsay ranked 653rd. Both spellings ranked among the top 100 names for girls from 1980 through 1993, with Lindsey peaking at #35 in 1983 and 1984 and Lindsay peaking at #36 in the same years.[6][7]
The names of
John de Lindsay (died 1335),
Ingram Lindsay (15th century)
David Lyndsay (c. 1490 – c. 1555) and
Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie (1532–1580) are early examples of the name being used as "surname" by members of lower nobility in Scotland. Lindsay was used in the
United Kingdom by younger sons of the Lindsay clan chiefs, acquiring the status of common surname in the course of the 19th century.
The surname Lindsay is also found in
Northern Ireland. Irish people called Lindsay are either descended from members of the Scottish clan Lindsay who migrated to Ireland, or alternatively of the Gaelic O'Loinsighsept, who sometimes anglicized their name as Lindsay, even though more common anglicizations were
Lynch or Linchey. In addition, the
MacClintock (MacIlliuntaig) family anglicized their name as Lindsay in the 17th century.
Five men called Linsey are recorded as heads of families in the 1790 United States Census of Prince George's County.[8]
People named Lindsay
Surname
Alec Lindsay (born 1948), English international footballer (Liverpool FC)
Alexander Lindsay Jr. (1871–1926), Justice of the Territorial Supreme Court of Hawaii
Alvin Francis Lindsay (1882–1957), American politician, Missouri state representative
Anna Lindsay (1845–1903), Scottish women's activist
This page or section lists people that share the same
given name or the same
family name. If an
internal link led you here, you may wish to change that link to point directly to the intended article.
Lindsay (/ˈlɪnzi/) is both a
Scottishsurname and a
given name. The given name comes from the Scottish surname and
clan name, which comes from the toponym
Lindsey, which in turn comes from the
Old English toponym Lindesege ("Island of Lind") for the city of
Lincoln, in which Lind is the original
Brittonic form of the name of Lincoln and island refers to Lincoln being an island in the surrounding fenland.[1][2]Lindum Colonia was the Roman name of the settlement which is now the
City of Lincoln in
Lincolnshire. (Lindum Colonia was shortened in Old English to Lindocolina and then Lincylene.)[3]Lindum was a
Latinized form of a
nativeBrittonic name which has been
reconstructed as *Lindon, which means "pool" or "lake" (cf. the second part of the name
Dublin and
modern Welshllyn)[4] and refers to the
Brayford Pool.
In the late 19th century, the surnames Lindsay and Lindsey began to be used as given names, at first only as masculine names. They remained typically masculine until the 1960s in
Britain and the 1970s in the
United States. They are both now unisex names in the United States. In Australia, New Zealand, and Scotland, Lindsay remains popular for masculine use and Lindsey has mainly become feminine.[2][1][5] As a first name, Lindsey was the 570th most popular name for girls born in the United States in 2014, while Lindsay ranked 653rd. Both spellings ranked among the top 100 names for girls from 1980 through 1993, with Lindsey peaking at #35 in 1983 and 1984 and Lindsay peaking at #36 in the same years.[6][7]
The names of
John de Lindsay (died 1335),
Ingram Lindsay (15th century)
David Lyndsay (c. 1490 – c. 1555) and
Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie (1532–1580) are early examples of the name being used as "surname" by members of lower nobility in Scotland. Lindsay was used in the
United Kingdom by younger sons of the Lindsay clan chiefs, acquiring the status of common surname in the course of the 19th century.
The surname Lindsay is also found in
Northern Ireland. Irish people called Lindsay are either descended from members of the Scottish clan Lindsay who migrated to Ireland, or alternatively of the Gaelic O'Loinsighsept, who sometimes anglicized their name as Lindsay, even though more common anglicizations were
Lynch or Linchey. In addition, the
MacClintock (MacIlliuntaig) family anglicized their name as Lindsay in the 17th century.
Five men called Linsey are recorded as heads of families in the 1790 United States Census of Prince George's County.[8]
People named Lindsay
Surname
Alec Lindsay (born 1948), English international footballer (Liverpool FC)
Alexander Lindsay Jr. (1871–1926), Justice of the Territorial Supreme Court of Hawaii
Alvin Francis Lindsay (1882–1957), American politician, Missouri state representative
Anna Lindsay (1845–1903), Scottish women's activist
This page or section lists people that share the same
given name or the same
family name. If an
internal link led you here, you may wish to change that link to point directly to the intended article.