Sir John Lisle's family traced its descent to the 11th century. A place called Wooton, then wooditon, Isle of Wight, was the ancient seat of the family. In "The Origins of some Anglo-Norman Familys" by Lewis C. Loyd, 1951 at pg. 99, the author says that the Lisles originated from Tourlaville and Cherbourg, Manche, Normandy, France. He says: "In 1086 William, son of Stur of the Isle of Wight gave to the abbey of Marmoutier the titLe of the mill of Torlavilla, which he held by hereditary right. The "Infuedationes militum" of 1172, show William, son of Estur holding half a knight's fee in the district near Cherbourg. Although it is not completely certain that Tourlaville was the original home of the family, the name not being territorial, it seems clear that William came from the Cotentin." (William the Conqueror, was duke of Normandy before he became King William I of England.)

The name de Insula became de Lisle, Le Lisle and Lisley then Lisle. The pedigree is set forth in the chart form in "Pedigrees of the familys in the county of Hants", by William Berry, 1833, at pgs 173-174 and 193. In Genealogical Gleanings in Eng, by Henry F. Waters, Vol1, 1907, pg 91 - He has several people listed that are not on this pedigree. From John d. 1471 to Sir John Who married Margaret Bremshot, are as follows: Sir William Lisle, m. Bridget, dau of Sir John Hungerford of Down-Amney in co. Gloucester