Surname Window - Meaning and Origin

Window: What does the surname Window mean?

The last name Window is of English origin and refers to a person who lives near or works in a window. It is believed that the name derived from the Old English word "wydewe", which referred to a doorway in a wall.

In medieval times, most dwellings could not be opened from the inside and could only be reached through an external window or "wydewe". The family name thus developed as a surname for anyone living near or working in such an entrance.

In some cases, the last name Window may have been given to someone who worked as a tradesman like a glazier or carpenter involved in the installation of windows. Alternatively, people with the surname Window might have been part of a family that owned a property near a window or had a window within their home.

The name Window continues to be used as a family name in the present day. Its meaning might hold extra relevance for those with a career in the trades or in architecture, or for those who wish to honor their family’s past. Regardless of the origin, the last name Window is both intriguing and special.

Window: Where does the name Window come from?

The last name Window is incredibly rare, and it is not particularly common in any one particular area. However, there are quite a few people with this last name scattered around the world.

In the United States, the last name Window is most commonly concentrated in the state of Minnesota. In 2017, the most populous city in the state, Minneapolis, saw the arrival of a few people who bear this last name.

In the United Kingdom, the Window surname is also present. Although in much smaller numbers than the US, a few individuals share this last name in the United Kingdom. The most prominent family known to bear this last name are located in the rural county of Somerset.

The Window surname is also present in Australia. Most of those with the surname Window reside in the suburbs of Sydney. There are also a few Window families in Perth, the capital of Western Australia.

Finally, the Window surname is also found in Eastern Europe. Most notably, in Poland where a few Window families can be found living in the town of Bydgoszcz.

Perhaps due to its rarity, the Window surname is not as widespread or common as other surnames found around the world. However, it still does have a presence in various parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Window

The surname Window is a variant of the Anglo-Norman surname Wysham. Wysham is derived from the Old English personal name Wisca, which means ‘wise one’. Variants of this surname include Wiseman, Wisman, Wishman, Wiseman, Wisemann, Wiseman, Wysham, Wyshamm, Wysshamm, Wiesham, Wysohm, Weisman and Wysman.

A much more rare variant of the Window surname is Winesham, which is derived from the Old English term, ‘wine’, which means friend. Variants of this rare surname include Winseman, Weineham, Wynnesham, Wineshem, Weinsham, Weingeham and Wineshen.

The Window surname is also a variant of the Irish surname Vinden, which is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó bhFionnáin, meaning ‘descendent of Fionán’, a personal name composed of the elements ‘fionn’, meaning ‘fair’ and ‘dán’, meaning ‘bold’. Variants of the Irish surname include Videen, Viden, Viddan, Vieden, Veyden, Voyden, Widen and Veydon.

The Window surname is also found in German-speaking countries under the form Wünden or Wündon. It is derived from the German word ‘wand’ meaning ‘wall’. Variants of this surname include Wünden, Wündon, Wendem, Wander, Wendell, Wenden, Wendelin and Wendem.

Famous people with the name Window

• Chris Whittle: American education entrepreneur
• Pete Open Window: 19th-century Native American Oglala Lakota chief
• Zygmunt Window: Polish-American physicist
• Lady Margaret Window: aristocrat of Queen Elizabeth I's court
• Albertina Window: British actress
• Llewellyn Winow: South African cricketer
• Sir Christopher Window: former British Chief of the Defence Staff
• Bertha Window: 1903 world champion chess player
• Erasmus Window: Dutch theologian
• Abdulaziz bin Abdurahman Window: first president of Yemen
• Edward Window: English clergyman and theologian
• TS Window: British colorguard entrepreneur
• Joseph Window: French botanist
• Bashir Window: Israeli football player
• Arlin Window: American baseball pitcher
• Diarmaid Window: Irish diplomat
• Aaron Window: Australian speedway rider
• Thea Window: German theologian
• Brigitte Window: French Olympic athlete
• Nolene Window: South African poetess

Other surnames

Windom