Lindsay or Lindsey is an English surname, originally derived from the territory of Lindsey in Lincolnshire, from the Old English toponym Lindesege "Lindum Isle", i.e. "marshlands of Lincoln".
In the late 19th century, the surname gave rise to the given names Lindsay and Lindsey in the United States, at first as a masculine given name, and since the mid-20th century, increasingly as a feminine given name. Its popularity as a girls' name is due to actress Lindsay Wagner (born 1949 as Lindsay Jean Wagner), who became famous in 1976 as The Bionic Woman. 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.
The surname is ultimately connected to the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Lindsey.
The surname of Lindsay continued to be borne by the Earls of Balcarres and Earls of Crawford, down to the current holder of the title, Robert Lindsay, 29th Earl of Crawford (b. 1927), while the Earls of Lindsay have used the additional surname of Lindesay since its adoption by Reginald Lindesay-Bethune, 12th Earl of Lindsay in 1919.
The names of John de Lindsay (d. 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:
Alec Lindsay (born 1948), English international footballer (Liverpool FC)David Lyndsay (poet), also spelled Lindsay, renaissance poet in the court of James V of ScotlandDuncan Morton Lindsay, Scottish football player (1902-1972)Sir Harry Lindsay (1881-1963), British civil servant and administratorJames Lindsay (Conservative politician) (1906–1997)James Alexander Lindsay (1815–1874), British Conservative Member of Parliament for Wigan, second son of James Lindsay, 24th Earl of CrawfordJoseph Lindsay (1858–1933), Scottish international footballerSir Martin Lindsay, 1st Baronet, British politician and explorer (1905–1981)Maurice Lindsay (1918–2009), Scottish broadcaster, writer and poetMaurice Lindsay (rugby league), rugby league administrator (Wigan)Patrick Lindsay (politician), Second Minister for the Gaeltacht (1914– 1993)Robert Lindsay (disambiguation)Ronald Lindsay (1877–1945), Former UK Ambassador to the United States, fifth son of James Lindsay, 26th Earl of CrawfordSandie Lindsay, 1st Baron Lindsay of Birker (1879–1952), Master of Balliol College, Oxford, son of Thomas Martin LindsayReverend Thomas Martin Lindsay (1843–1914)Ireland
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'Loinsigh sept, 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.
Americas and Oceania
At the same time, Scottish emigrants to America or Australia tended to adopt their clan's name as surname; as a Scottish American surname, Lindsay is introduced by the late 18th century, with the immigration of one Anthony Lindsay from Scotland.
Alvin Francis Lindsay (1882–1957), American politician, Missouri state representativeArthur Fydell Lindsay (1816–1895), South Australian surveyor and politicianArto Lindsay (born 1953), American musicianChike Lindsay (born 1983), American kickboxerSir Daryl Lindsay (1889–1976), Australian, brother of Norman LindsayDavid Lindsay (explorer) (1856–1922) leader of 1891 Elder expedition to Central AustraliaGermaine Lindsay (1985–2005), Jamaican-born British Islamist terroristJeff Lindsay (writer) (born 1952), American fiction writerJohn Lindsay (1921–2000), American politicianSir Lionel Lindsay (1874–1961), Australian artist, brother of Norman LindsayMark Lindsay (born 1942), American pop singerNorman Lindsay (1879–1969), Australian artist, of famous Lindsay familyPercy Lindsay (1870–1952), Australian artist, brother of Norman LindsayReg Lindsay (1929–2008), Australian country and western singerRuby Lindsay (1885–1919), Australian artist, sister of Norman LindsayRyan Lindsay (born 1976), Canadian former professional ice hockey playerTed Lindsay (born 1925), American former professional ice hockey playerVachel Lindsay (1879–1931), American poetThe boy's given name Lindsay appears to arise from the Scottish surname in the early 20th century in North America and Australia / New Zealand, also given to girls by the mid-20th century, and rising to popularity in the 1970s.
Adrian Lindsey (1895–1980), American athlete and coachBen Lindsey (basketball), American collegiate basketball coachBen Lindsey (jurist) (1869–1943), American judge and social reformerBrandon Lindsey, American football playerCharles H. Lindsey, British computer scientistIsaac Coleman Lindsey (1892–1968), Louisiana politicianDavid L. Lindsey, novelistGeoff Lindsey, writerGeorge Lindsey, American actorHal Lindsey, American evangelist and Christian writerHillary Lindsey, country music songwriterJim Lindsey, University of Arkansas trusteeJohanna Lindsey, novelistKorey Lindsey, American football playerLawrence B. Lindsey, economistMartin Lindsey, English vice-chancellorMelvin Lindsey, broadcasterSteven W. Lindsey, astronautTheophilus Lindsey, theologian, founder of Unitarianism in EnglandLindsay Rogers (1891-1970), Burgess Professor of Public Law, Columbia University (1920–1959); Director, Social Science Research Council (1934–36)Lindsay Crosby (1938-1989); American actor and singerLindsay Weir (1908–2003), New Zealand cricketerLindsay Brown (1911–1987), American baseball playerLindsay Hassett (1913–1993), Australian Test cricketerLindsay Tuckett (born 1919), South African cricketerLindsay Anderson (1923–1994), British film directorLindsay Kline (born 1934), Australian Test cricketerLindsay Gaze (born 1936), Australian basketball player and coachLindsay Hoyle (born 1957), Labour Member of Parliament for Chorley (England)Lindsay Dawson (born 1959), American artistLindsay Hamilton (born 1962), Scottish footballerLindsay Knapp (born 1970), Football playerLindsay Kemp (born 1938), British dancer, actor, teacher, mime artist and choreographerLindsay Scott (born 1960), American football playerLindsay Tait (born 1982), New Zealand basketball playerLindsay G. Merrithew (born 1964), Canadian entrepreneur, executive producer, producer, and actor.Lindsay Wagner, American actress (b. 1949)Lindsay Cooper, English musician and political activist (1951–2013)Lindsay Armstrong, South-African born Australian writer (b. before 1970)1970sLindsay Davenport, American tennis player (b. 1976)Lindsay Price, American actress and singer (b. 1976)Lindsay Lee-Waters, American tennis player (b. 1977)Lindsay Sloane, American actress (b. 1977)Lindsay Hartley, American actress (b. 1978)1980sLindsay Taylor, former WNBA player (b. 1981)Lindsay Whalen, American basketball player (b. 1982)Lindsay Tarpley, American soccer player (b. 1983)Lindsay Ellingson, American fashion model (b. 1984)Lindsay Felton, American actress (b. 1984)Lindsay Hawker, British murder victim (1984-2007)Lindsay Lohan, American actress and singer (b. 1986)Lindsay Pagano, American singer (b. 1986)Lyndsy Fonseca, American actress (b. 1987)1990sLindsay Arnold, ballroom dancer, former contestant on So You Think You Can Dance and current contestant from Dancing with the Stars (b. 1994)Lindsay Monroe, a character on CSI: NYLindsay Rappaport, a character on One Life to LiveLindsay Weir, a character on Freaks and Geeks, played by Linda CardelliniLindsay Bluth Fünke, a character on Arrested Development, played by Portia de RossiLindsay, a character on Total Drama IslandLindsay Dole, an attorney on The Practice, played by Kelli WilliamsLyndsay, a character in the Wii and DS games MySims Kingdom, MySims Agents and MySims SkyHeroesLindsay, a character on The New Adventures of Old Christine, played by Alex Kapp HornerLindsay Boxer, a character on Women's Murder Club, played by Angie HarmonLindsay Marriott, a character in Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond ChandlerLindsay in Lucky Number Slevin played by Lucy LiuLindsay Willows, a character appears in CSI Las Vegas as Catherine Willows'es daughterLindsey Berg, American volleyball playerLindsey Cardinale, American singer and American Idol contestant (born 1985)Lindsey Davis, novelistLindsey Evans, American fashion model and beauty queen (born 1989)Lindsey German, politicianLindsey Haun, American actress and singer (born 1984)Lindsey Hilsum, news reporterSpessard Lindsey Holland, politicianLindsey Jacobellis (born 1985), American snowboarderLindsey McKeon, American actress (born 1982)Lindsey Shaw, American actress (born 1989)Lindsey Stirling, American violinist (born 1986)Jay Lindsey Tibbs, baseball playerLindsey Vonn, alpine skierLindsey Vuolo, photographer's modelLindsey Ann Way, Musician and bassist for Mindless Self Indulgence (born 1976)Lindsey Witten (born 1988), American football playerLindsey Wixson American fashion model (born 1994)Lindsey Wright, American professional golfer (born 1979)Lindsey Van, American ski jumper (born 1984)Lindsey Buckingham (born 1949), American guitarist, singer, composer, and producer, member of Fleetwood MacLindsey Durlacher (1974–2011), US Greco-Roman wrestlerLindsey Graham (born 1955), American politician and US Senator from South Carolina since 2003Lindsey Hugh Holliman, politicianLindsey Hughes, historianLindsey Hunter (born 1970), American basketball playerLindsey Lamar, American football playerLindsey Nelson (1919–1995), American sportscasterLindsey Butterfield, a character in the soap opera, HollyoaksLindsey Farris, a character in Mission: Impossible IIILindsey McDonald, a character on the TV show AngelLindsey Naegle, a minor character on the TV show The SimpsonsDr. Lindsey Novak, a character on the sci-fi series Stargate SG-1Lindsey Salmon, a character from The Lovely BonesLyndsay DePaul (born 1988), American swimmerLyndsay Glohe (born 1988), Australian football playerLyndsay Hammond, Australian musicianLyndsay Kahler (born 1974), American beauty pageantLyndsay McIntosh (born 1955), Scottish politicianLyndsay Meyer (born 1973), American ski-mountaineerLyndsay Proctor, New Zealand rugby playerLyndsay Wall (born 1985), American ice-hockey playerLinsay Felton (born 1984), American actorLinsay Willier, Canadian modelSurnameJoseph Linsey (1899–1994), organized crime figure in Boston's underworld during ProhibitionMeghan Linsey (born 1985), American musician, singer-songwriter, and runner-up of NBC's The Voice season 8Given namesLinsey Corbin (born 1981), American triathleteLinsey Godfrey (born 1989), American actorLinsey MacDonald (born 1964), former Scottish sprinter from Dunfermline, FifeLinsey Dawn McKenzie (born 1978), English glamour model, pornographic actress, and minor celebrityOtherLinsey-woolsey, coarse twill or plain-woven fabric woven with a linen warp and a woollen weftJohn Linsey Rand House, Italianate house in Friendship, Indiana, USALyndsey Marshal (born 1978), English actorLyndsey Patterson (born 1982), American soccer playerLyndsey Pfaff (born 1978), Belgian television personalityLyndsey Rodrigues (born 1981), Australian television personalityMartin Lyndsey, English 16th-century academic administratorLynsay Sands, Canadian authorLynsay Ryan (born 1984), Canadian curlerLynsey Askew (born 1986), English cricketerLynsey Addario (born 1973), American photojournalistLynsey Baxter (born 1959), English actorLynsey Bartilson (born 1983), American actorLynsey de Paul (born 1948), English singer-songwriterLynsey DuFour, American television soap opera writerLynsey Hipgrave (born 1979), English television and radio presenter formerly known as Lynsey HornLynsey McCullough (born 1991), Irish tennis playerLynsey Sharp (born 1990), Scottish athleteLynsey Nolan, character in the British soap opera Hollyoaks
