The name of the suburb derives from the Old English Tingas-Leah, which means 'Field of Council', cognate with "thing (assembly)" and "lea", a dialectal word for "meadow".

[2] Tinsley Wood lay to the south of the settlement, on land now partly occupied by Sheffield City Airport and High Hazels Park.

[3] Companies such as George Cohen, the '600 works', BOC, Osbourn Hadfield and Brinsworth Strip Mills were occupants of the landscape near Tinsley and the neighbouring area of Templeborough, Rotherham.

The Blackburn Meadows power station is also located in the area and was home to the Tinsley Towers, a well-known landmark next to the M1 viaduct.

It has a new 5-aside football pitch, Tennis court, children's playground, adult rides and a cricket bowling practice area.

The site is in the process of being converted to a business park with several major developments already open, part of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre a collaboration between The University of Sheffield and industrial partners.