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Show ContentsWinter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Etymology of Winter

What does the name Winter mean?

The origins of the Winter surname date back to the time of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It comes from an early member of the family who was a person born in the wintertime having derived from the Old English word wintar, meaning wet season. 1

Early Origins of the Winter family

The surname Winter was first found in Gloucestershire.

"The natural seasons gave personal names in the same way. ' Summer and Winter are both ancient names; in the Cod. Dip. Alamannioe there are two brothers called respectively Sumar and Winter, A.D. 858. Winter was also the name of one of the companions of Hereward the Saxon. 'Although a pre - Norman personal name, Winter survived the Conquest, and attained hereditary honours as a surname in the 13th cent. " 2

Another source postulates "most probably the Old English personal name Wintra (A.D. 699) and Uuintra (A.D. 704), associated in the popular mind with Old English winter, 'winter'. " 3

And another notes "Winter was the name of one of the companions of the Anglo-Saxon Hereward, and Winter and Sommer are both German and modern Danish names. " 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Wynter Mariot in Norfolk and Gelle Winter in Cambridgeshire, so as you can see the name was in use as both a forename and surname from very early times. 2

Further to the north in Scotland, "Elsi, son of Winter, had a grant of the lands of Thirlstane from Hugh de Morville before 1162. Jop Wyntyr was a charter witness at Yester in 1374. " 3

Early History of the Winter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Winter research. Another 179 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1162, 1379, 1447, 1452, 1474, 1487, 1488, 1494, 1572, 1589, 1600, 1603, 1606, 1622, 1642, 1645, 1646, 1658, 1661, 1665, 1666, 1668, 1671, 1673, 1686 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Winter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Winter Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Winter has been spelled many different ways, including Winter, Winters, Wynter and others.

Early Notables of the Winter family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Thomas Winter or Wintour (1572-1606), an English conspirator, the younger brother of Robert Winter of Huddington, Worcestershire. "They were descended from Wintor, the castellan of Carnarvon, their na...
  • Admiral Sir William Winter or Wynter (d. 1589), was from an "old Brecknock family, the elder son of John Wynter (d. 1646), merchant and sea-captain of Bristol, and (1645-1646) Treasurer of the Navy. "...
  • Sir John Winter (1600?-1673?), was Secretary to Queen Henrietta Maria, born probably about 1600, the son and heir of Sir Edward Winter of Lydney, Gloucestershire
  • Samuel Winter (1603-1666), was Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, born at Temple Balsall, a chapelry in the parish of Hampton-in-Arden, Warwickshire, the son of Christopher Winter, a yeoman from Oxfo...
  • Sir Edward Winter (1622-1686), was an English agent, the 8th Administrator of Madras (1661-1665) and (1665-1668.) He was the son of William Winter and great-grandson of Admiral Sir William Winter

Winter World Ranking

In the United States, the name Winter is the 1,079th most popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Winter is ranked the 893rd most popular surname with an estimated 6,007 people with that name. 6 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Winter is the 542nd popular surname with an estimated 85 people with that name. 7 France ranks Winter as 2,458th with 2,500 - 3,000 people. 8 Australia ranks Winter as 422nd with 8,832 people. 9 New Zealand ranks Winter as 341st with 1,850 people. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Winter as 429th with 15,058 people. 11 Netherlands ranks Winter as 501st with 3,460 people. 12

Migration of the Winter family to Ireland

Some of the Winter family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Winter migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Winters to arrive in North America:

Winter Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Winter, who settled in Maine in 1616
  • Robert Winter, who settled in Virginia in 1616
  • Edward Winter, who settled in Maryland in 1634
  • Ann Winter, who landed in Virginia in 1636 13
  • Margaret Winter, who settled in Virginia in 1660
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Winter Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Heinrich Winter, who settled in New York State in 1710-11
  • Abraham Winter, who arrived in New England in 1724 13
  • Hans Winter, who settled in Philadelphia in 1733
  • Hendrick Winter, who landed in New Jersey in 1744 13
  • Hans Georg Winter, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Winter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Ehris Winter, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1803 13
  • Ehric Winter, who settled in Philadelphia in 1803
  • Jakob Winter, who arrived in Ohio in 1833 13
  • Conrad Winter, who settled in Philadelphia in 1834
  • Edward Winter, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Winter migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Winter Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Catharina Winter, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
  • Mr. Joseph Winter U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 14
  • Mr. Peter Winter U.E., (Winters) who settled in Elizabeth Town [Elizabethtown], Leeds County, Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Royal Regiment of New York 14
  • Mr. Henry Winter U.E., (Winters) who settled in Elizabeth Town [Elizabethtown], Leeds County, Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Royal Regiment of New York, married at time of arriving 14
Winter Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Heinrich Winter, who arrived in Manitoba in 1876

Winter migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Winter Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Winter, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Miss Ann Winter, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • Mr. William Winter, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for life, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 17
  • Mr. Benjamin Winter, (b. 1801), aged 29, English ploughman who was convicted in Hertfordshire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "David Lyon" on 29th April 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 18
  • Mr. Joseph Winter, English convict who was convicted in Hertfordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "David Lyon" on 29th April 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 18
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Winter migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Winter Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Winter, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston aboard the ship "Eagle" arriving in New Zealand in 1850 19
  • Child Winter, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston aboard the ship "Eagle" arriving in New Zealand in 1850 19
  • Mr. Winter, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Traveller" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 22nd July 1859 20
  • Mrs. Winter, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Traveller" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 22nd July 1859 20
  • David Winter, aged 40, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Anne Longton" in 1860 19
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Winter (post 1700) +

  • Joanne "Jo" Emily Winter (1924-1996), American pitcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943-1950)
  • William Forrest Winter (1923-2020), American attorney and politician, 58th Governor of Mississippi from 1980 to 1984
  • Jo de Winter (1921-2016), American actress, known for her roles in Dirty Harry (1971), Bird (1988) and Gloria (1982)
  • Jay Murray Winter (b. 1945), American historian at Yale University
  • Edward Dean Winter (1937-2001), American actor, best known for his role as military intelligence officer Colonel Flagg on the television series M*A*S*H
  • Douglas E. Winter (b. 1950), American writer, critic and lawyer
  • Donald Charles Winter (b. 1948), American businessman, United States Secretary of the Navy (2006-2009)
  • Alexander Ross "Alex" Winter (b. 1965), English-born American actor, film director and screenwriter, best known for his leading role in the 1989 film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and the sequel Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
  • John Dawson "Johnny" Winter (1944-2014), American blues guitarist, singer, and producer; Rolling Stone ranked him 63rd on its list of 100 greatest guitarists, triple Grammy Award-winning producer, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
  • Edgar Holland Winter (b. 1946), American keyboardist, saxophonist, and percussionist, brother of Johnny Winter
  • ... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Halifax Explosion
  • Mrs. Annie  Winter (1885-1917), Canadian resident from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 21
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Douglas Winter, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 22
RMS Lusitania
  • Miss Thirza Winter, English 2nd Class passenger residing in New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 23
  • Mr. William Henry Winter, English 1st Class Passenger from Liverpool, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking by escaping on either life boat 17, 19 23
SS Newfoundland
  • Mr. Robert Winter, Newfoundlander from Poole's Island, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he survived
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Edward Winter, American Warrant Officer-Machinist from Washington, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 24
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  7. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  8. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  9. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  10. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  11. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  12. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  13. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  14. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-lyon
  19. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  20. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  21. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  22. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  23. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  24. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html

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