Surname Winan - Meaning and Origin
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Winan: What does the surname Winan mean?
The Winan surname is an English patronymic name, meaning "son of Win(e)-an" or "son of Wynflaed". Wynflaed was a popular Anglo-Saxon name, derived from the Old English words "wine" and "flaed" meaning "friend". The surname was likely adopted by descendants of Win(e)-an, who were likely early adopters of Christianity in Europe.
In England, Winan is mainly found in Lancashire and Yorkshire, where it has been found since the 13th century, though in some instances it may have derived from personal names in Normandy. Within the United States, Winan is mostly found in the Mid-Atlantic regions, with the largest populations being in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
The Winan name has transitioned over the years, and some of the more modern variations can include Wynan, Winning, Winon, Winne, Winnen, and Wynnen. Some individuals may have been adopted into the families by marriage and thus carried different variants of the name, such as the Winney, Winnett, or Wynant.
Today, the family crest features three red roses, associated with love, beauty, and passion, while the crest motto reads "Volare Bonitas" which translates to "to fly in beauty." It is believed to come from the English-Norman motto Eviseratio Peccatorum (looking for faults) which suggests a quest for accomplishment.
Order DNA origin analysisWinan: Where does the name Winan come from?
The last name Winan is most commonly found in the United States and Canada today. Most Winan’s in the US can be found in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. According to the 2019 census, Winan’s make up approximately 0.0011% of the population which equates to about 45,000 people in the US alone.
The origin of the name Winan is not known but it is believed to be part of the ‘Yan’ family of surnames that originated from the Germanic tribe known as the Franks. The Franks invaded and settled in the lower Rhine region of modern-day Germany, Netherlands, and Luxembourg in the 5th century A.D. It is thought that the earliest recorded use of the Winan name, or its variants, could date back to the 11th century.
The Winan name is most frequent in countries which trace their roots to immigrant families, like those who traveled across Europe and beyond throughout the years. It is likely that the family name is related to immigrants who have resided in various countries over many centuries.
Today, the Winan name can sometimes be found in historical records, in countries such as Italy, Australia, Ireland, and the UK. As well, it is occasionally found in the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Winan
The surname Winan is an variant spelling of the Irish surname Wadding which is found mainly in counties Wexford and Cork in Ireland. It is believed to be of English or Anglo-Norman origin. The Winan variation of the surname is thought to derive from the old English, ‘Wynge’.
Other spelling variants of the Winan surname include Winans, Winant, Wons and Wonser. The pronunciation of the surname may also vary, with Wadding or Wynans having alternate pronunciations in different regions.
The Irish surname Wadding or its Winan counterpart may also appear in many different surnames due to the common practice of anglicizing Irish surnames. Variants of this surname include Wyman, Windon, Whyman and Wydman. Sometimes, other surnames such as the German ‘Wiedmann’ have been found to be anglicized into the surname Winan.
The various spellings of the Winan surname likely all stem from the same origin. It is interesting to note that even though the various variants may originate from the same root, they will still be pronounced differently depending on where in the world the surname is found. Despite its various spellings and pronunciations, the Winan surname is ultimately of Irish origin.
Famous people with the name Winan
- BeBe & CeCe Winans: The brother and sister contemporary gospel duo have been performing together since 1984. They have had numerous hits on both gospel and mainstream music charts, and have won several Grammy Awards for their music.
- Marvin Winans: Marvin is Pastor of Perfecting Church and is a multi-Grammy Award winning gospel singer who first found success in the group the Winans with his brothers and sister, BeBe & CeCe.
- Ronald Winans: Ronald was a gospel singer best known for being part of the group The Winans with 3 of his brothers and his sister. He also had a solo career and was behind the landmark album The Return.
- Carvin Winans: Carvin is the youngest brother in the legendary gospel group The Winans and was a successful solo artist. He has released several solo projects and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album in 1994.
- Michael Winans Jr.: Michael is a musician and producer, the son of gospel singer Ronald Winans and nephew of the other Winans. He is also a member of the group Winans Phase 2, with his brother Marvin Jr.
- Mark Kibble: Mark is a gospel singer and musician who was part of the family group known as BeBe & CeCe Winans. He is currently a member of Take 6, and has won several Grammy Awards for his work with the group.
- Marvin L. Winans Jr.: Marvin is the son of gospel singer Marvin Winans and was a part of the group Winans Phase 2 with his brother Michael. He is also a successful solo artist and producer.