Version Number 1

The surname Greensall or a variant of it show that it appears in Scottish documents from at least the 15th century when the name is mentioned in Scottish records as Greynchellis in the year 1499AD. Later records show that William Greinscheillis was retoured heir of William Greinscheillis de eodem in 1617. Also around this time, John Greenscheills is recorded in Eister Moderwell in the year 1624. Later in the century, William Greenscheills appears in Ormistoun in 1687.
The Scottish surname Greensall is of regional origin. Regional surnames stem from place names including rivers, countries, and man made features like buildings and crossroads. Our name comes from the place Greenshields which is the name of a place located in the parish of Liberton in Lanarkshire.

Blazon of Arms : Argent three griffin’s heads erased sable.

Translation :       Argent represents the colours silver or white and indicates harmony and

                         sincerity. Sable represents the colour black, which in turn designates

                         allegiance and loyalty.

Crest :                A Griffin’s head as in the arms

Origin :               Scotland

The link with the name Greenshields is not proven.

Version Number 2

The name Greensall is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and comes from either one of two places in Lancashire, both called “ Greenhalgh”. After the 13th century the spelling of the place name changed to “Greenhaugh”, meaning a piece of flat alluvial land by the side of a river, or land in a corner formed by a bend. The modern surname can be found as Greenhalgh, Greenhalf, Greenhall, Greenall, Greensall, and Greenhaugh.
Various name bearers include John Greenhalgh(1651) who was a royalist and governor of the Isle of Man in 1640.
Matillda de Grenehalgh in the Subsidy Rolls of 1332. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard de Grenhal, which was dated 1230 in the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire, during the reign of King Henry III, known as the “Frenchman”, 1216 - 1272