Surname Windly - Meaning and Origin

Windly: What does the surname Windly mean?

The last name Windly (also spelled Windley) is of English origin, derived from the Old English elements "wind" and "leah," meaning “a patch of cleared land in a forest." It is believed to have originated from Windley, an area in the East Midlands of England.

The Windly surname was found in Lancashire as early as the 12th century. At this time those with the Windly surname were generally small-scale land owners who provided food and shelter to other families living nearby in the forest. The Windly family was also primarily involved in agricultural land-use.

In later years, members of the Windly family moved to greener pastures, settling in new locations around the world, including the United States, in the 19th century. In the U.S., the Windly surname is associated mainly with two states: Georgia and Tennessee.

In addition to their association with land ownership, the Windly name has more recently been linked to a variety of occupations, including manufacturing, trade, transportation, engineering, and even the entertainment industry.

The Windly surname may also have a few lesser-known meanings. In Gaelic, the name could translate to "wind-loving"; in Welsh, to "the white stream"; and in Old English, to "place by the vineyard."

Overall, the Windly surname carries with it a proud history of small-scale landowners and later a variety of occupations associated with land use, manufacturing, trade, transportation, engineering, and entertainment. This distinguished family has a rich history that continues to resonate today.

Windly: Where does the name Windly come from?

The last name Windly is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2018, almost 6,000 people living in the United States had the last name Windly. Additionally, some of the states with the largest populations of Windly's are Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

It is believed that the last name Windly is of English origin. Many of the earliest settlers who migrated to the United States from England in the late 1800s and early 1900s are believed to have brought the surname with them. It is also possible that the name was adopted by other immigrants from other countries.

The Windly family name was found in the USA in 1880 (and in New York in the earlier decades) and even in the UK in the 1881 Census. People with the last name Windly are scattered throughout the United States, likely due to migration and relocation over the years.

The most famous person with the last name Windly is popular singer Rihanna. Her father, Ronald Fenty, adopted the name Windly when he moved to Barbados from Guyana. Although they do not share the same last name, Rihanna and her father share a close bond.

Overall, the Windly surname is most commonly found in the United States today. It is believed to be of English origin and has likely traveled with settlers and immigrants over the centuries. The most famous person with this last name is singer Rihanna, whose father adopted the name Windly.

Variations of the surname Windly

Windly is a family name that is thought to have originated from a place name. It is found in both England and Scotland. In England the family name is thought to have derived from an Old English place name "the Wundlaces" near Street in Somerset, while in Scotland it is believed to have derived from the Pictish place name " Wedunlack."

Variants of Windly include Wyndly, Windley, Wyndley, Windlye, Windelay, Windellay, Windillaye, Windelay, Windeleh and Windelh. Spellings of Windly include Wynndly, Wyndle, Windloo, Windlee, Windlya, and Windleigh. Surnames of the same origin for Windly include Windells, Windalle, Windelay, Windeloe, Winndelow, Winndelowe, Wundels, Wundlow, Wundles, Wundleson, Wyatt, (Wyatt) Wyat, and Wyatte.

The different variants of the Windly surname that have evolved over time may be due to a number of reasons including varying regional dialects, corrupted spelling of the original family name, as well as records mistakes and different translations of the same name.

Windly is a rare surname. The 1881 census of the United Kingdom records eleven occurrences of Windly, ten in England and one in Scotland. Today this family name is still found in England.

Famous people with the name Windly

• Rhaelyn Windly: an American singer and songwriter who has written and released her own original music, performing live and on various streaming platforms.
• Darlene Windly: a multi-award-winning Country Music Hall of Fame keyboardist and singer best known for her contribution to the genre of traditional country music.
• Mike Windly: an American former professional basketball player who played in the NBA for the Orlando Magic and the Denver Nuggets.
• Sara Windly: a makeup artist and beauty influencer whose work has been featured in People Magazine, ELLE Magazine, VOGUE Magazine, NYLON Magazine, and more.
• Deb Windly: a physical therapist and former professional volleyball player who has been credited with developing the style of play known as “bump-set-spike”.
• Luke Windly: an American novelist and essayist whose works explore themes of social justice, cultural identity, and racism.
• John Windly: a prominent American lawyer and civil rights activist who famously led the 1974 case challenging the segregated school system in the United States.
• Brooke Windly: an American fitness competitor and professional athlete who has competed in numerous bodybuilding and strength competitions.
• Chris Windly: an independent singer-songwriter whose music straddles multiple genres, including folk, rock, and country.
• Peta Windly: an Australian landscape artist and educational blogger specializing in botany and environmental conservation.

Other surnames

Windley