Surname Windhorn - Meaning and Origin

Windhorn: What does the surname Windhorn mean?

The surname Windhorn is derived from the Old German language and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is a combination of two elements – wind and hurn, with the former meaning "wind" and the latter meaning "horn". This name is most likely a locational name used to refer to someone who lived near or in an area known for the blowing winds.

Over time, the spelling of the surname Windhorn was changed to various variants including Windhornn, Vintshorn, Vindthorn, and Wintshorn. The name was found mainly in several regions in Europe such as Germany, France, and Poland.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname being used was in 1298, when one Henry de Vintshorn was mentioned in a document from St. Alban's Abbey. Later in the 15th century, the Windhorn family were recorded settling in the town of Markt Ingelfing in Bavaria, Germany.

Today, the surname Windhorn is still found in many countries around the world. Those bearing the surname are typically descended from this older Germanic surname. It is a common surname with many individuals in Canada, United States, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Windhorn: Where does the name Windhorn come from?

The last name Windhorn is common primarily in Scandinavia, Northern Germany, and the Netherlands. Windhorn is a patronymic surname, which is derived from a male ancestor's first name.

The earliest records of the Windhorn surname originated in northern German towns like Aarbergen, Niederbrechen, and Oberbrechen. Windhorn families from Germany painted Kisselmarkt, an old parish, in the 16th century. Later, some of these same families migrated to Norway and Sweden. In Norway, the Windhorn family can be found in counties such as Finmark, Nordland, and Trondelag. In northern Sweden, there are Windhorn families located on the coast of Västerbotten.

Today, the Windhorn surname is thought to be most common in the Netherlands. This is in part due to a large family that lived in the towns of Ermelo, Putten, and Nijkerk in the 19th century. However, Windhorn is still commonly found in parts of Scandinavia and Germany as well.

Additionally, there are some Windhorn families living in the United States and Canada. The majority of these families are descended from German and Dutch immigrants who left their countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These families may have adopted their last name when they arrived in North America, or they may have kept it from their original homeland.

Variations of the surname Windhorn

The variants of Windhorn include Windhornn, Windhornne, Winshorne, Windshorne, Wyndhorne, Windhorne, Windhorm, Wndhorne, and Winthorne.

The primary spellings of Windhorn are Windhorn and Windhorne. Windhorn is the more common spelling, though the -e spelling, Windhorne, is still seen.

Windhorn is a patronymic surname, common in Germany, meaning “son of a winder,” or “one who makes a living as a winder.” Winders were people who made and sold things like spinning wheels and windmills. The patronymic surname is also seen in Denmark and Sweden, and in these areas, it is spelled Windhohn, Windhahn, and Windhehn.

The surname Windhorn has many alternate spellings and variants. In some areas, it is spelled Windhorrn, Windhornn, Windhornne, Winshorne, Windshorne, Wyndhorne, or Winthorne. In some contexts, the surname may also be seen spelled Wndhorne.

Those with the surname Windhorn are descended from the Saxons, a Germanic tribe that settled in the regions of England which are now known as Northumbria, Kent, East Anglia, and Wessex. Windhorn has many variants, but all originate from two distinct Germanic names, Winand and Hort.

Famous people with the name Windhorn

• Emily Windhorn: Emily Windhorn is an American actress who starred in the films The Other Woman and The Little Hours. She has also been in the TV shows Girls, Eastbound & Down, and Transparent.
• Stina Windhorn: Stina Windhorn is a Swedish actress who appeared in the films Tuva: Rösterna från skogen, Ingenting, and The Tyresö Killing.
• Richard Windhorn: Richard Windhorn is an Australian actor best known for his role in the movie The Little Death.
• Shawn Windhorn: Shawn Windhorn is a Canadian actor famous for his appearances in the films The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia and The Turin Horse.
• Shane Windhorn: Shane Windhorn is an Australian stuntman who has worked on films such as Mad Max: Fury Road, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
• Richard Windhorn, Jr.: Richard Windhorn, Jr. is an American actor known for his roles in Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!, The Vampire Diaries, and the upcoming science fiction movie Remember Tomorrow.
• Richard Windhorn III: Richard Windhorn III is the son of Richard Windhorn, Jr. He is an actor who has been seen in films such as Loitering with Intent, The Last Summer, and Changes of a Postman.
• Ulf Windhorn: Ulf Windhorn is a German screenwriter who has written movies such as Sylt: Verloren im Meer, Manuel und sein Quatsch, and Muss nicht sein!.

Other surnames

Windhorst