Surname Winders - Meaning and Origin
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Winders: What does the surname Winders mean?
The last name Winders is of English origin. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon personal name Wintra, which is composed of two elements: win, meaning “friend,” and tra, meaning “strength.” The name became Winders, perhaps, because the “d” sound was added as a change of spelling. The name Wintra is recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086, meaning that families with this name were already established in England by that time.
The surname Winders has many variations, such as Wender, Winder, Windhers, Winchers, and Winderle. It is predominantly found in the north and south of England. Throughout history, Winders has been a name passed down through generations. There were a few Winders families living in the U.S. in the late 1800s, likely emigrants from England.
Winders is a common name in England and the U.S., and it is likely derived from the original noun meaning “friend” and “strength.” This is an appropriate name for anybody looking to connect with their Anglo-Saxon roots or to celebrate a family legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisWinders: Where does the name Winders come from?
The last name Winders is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in Brandenburg, a state in the east of the country. According to genealogical sources, the name originated from the area near Bad Wünnenberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, in the early 19th century and is believed to be of German origin. It is also said to be derived from a German word meaning 'to wind up' or 'to pull'.
Today, the surname is extremely widespread across Germany and is also found in the US and Australia, although much less commonly. DNA analysis suggests it arrived in the US only relatively recently, probably due to immigration.
In terms of frequencies, Winders is not a particularly rare name within Germany, with around 3,500 people sharing the surname in Germany alone. However, in the US, the name is much more uncommon, with only around 600 people sharing the surname.
Generally speaking, the surname Winders is likely to be indicative of a German heritage and is associated with hard work and dedication, as those who carry it were likely either involved in manual labour or in more skilled, artisanal roles.
Variations of the surname Winders
The surname Winders has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Among them are Wenders, Wieders, Wendes, Wintress, Windross, Winters, Winder, Winery, Windram, Windries, Windrow, Windshear, Wiederhold, Wunderlich, Wunsche, Winterer, Winterer, Windhurst, Windhager, Windshearer, and Windham.
The Germanic forms of this surname date back to the Middle Ages when the family Winders were knights living in what we now know as Germany. Some variants of this surname are believed to be derived from a short form of the Old German first name Wendel, or from the Old German word "wintra", referring to the winter season.
This surname can also be an Americanized variant of German surnames ending with "-winkel" (Anglicized to "Winkler"), which was a topographic name for someone who lived in a corner or bend of a street, river, or mountain range.
The Winders surname is also found in England and Wales, where variants of this surname can be variants on the Old English word win(e)dratt, which means "a stream". This word may have originally referred to a place near a river or waterway, and is likely the origin of many of the variant names mentioned previously.
The Irish variant of this surname is thought to be the Anglicization of the Irish surname "McGinley" or the Scottish surname "McKinlay".
The surnames originating from this family, and their many variants, are found across many countries. They may appear in any English-speaking countries, as well as in many parts of Europe and other countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Winders
- Siobhan Winders: Siobhan Winders is an actress best known for her roles in the shows Mozart in the Jungle and Mr. Robot.
- Adam Winders: Adam Winders is an American rapper and hip hop artist who is signed to Warner Music Group.
- Chris Winders: Chris Winders is a professional golfer who won the 2011 PGA Nationwide Tour.
- Patricia Winders: Patricia Winders is a Canadian figure skater who won a bronze medal at the 1988 Calgary Olympics.
- Ed Winders: Ed Winders is an American actor who has appeared in numerous TV shows and movies, such as The X-Files, Bones, and Hawaii Five-O.
- Diane Winders: Diane Winders is an American actress who has had roles in the TV shows Newhart and My Name is Earl.
- Gordon Winders: Gordon Winders is an American composer who wrote music for the films Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
- Cari Winders: Cari Winders is an Australian television producer and screenwriter known for her work on the show Offspring.
- Mark Winders: Mark Winders is a British actor and voice-over artist most known for the role of Old Pa in the BBC’s Wolfblood.
- Sabrina Winders: Sabrina Winders is a professional diver who won bronze in 10 meter platform diving at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.