Surname Winken - Meaning and Origin
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Winken: What does the surname Winken mean?
The last name Winken is from the Old German language and it means 'to wink'. It is believed to have been given as a nickname to those who were known for their mischievousness or had a habit of winking often. Alternatively, it could have been given to someone who came from a place noted for winking, such as a stream or brook (related to the word 'winkel' which means 'corner').
Historically, some people have also thought that Winken may be related to the Dutch word 'weenken' which means 'happy'. As Winken is sometimes used as a variant of Winckler, which is taken from the Old German word 'winkelhaar' meaning 'lock of hair', this could suggest that those with this name are fondly remembered for their charming looks.
In modern times, Winken remains an uncommon surname. As a result of its meaning, it is often seen as playful or amusing. It could be given to those with a joyful personality, or at least those with a good sense of humour.
Order DNA origin analysisWinken: Where does the name Winken come from?
The last name Winken is most common in Germany today, with approximately 29,400 people in the country bearing the name. The vast majority of those with the Winken surname can be found in the German states of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Bayern, Baden-Württemberg, Rheinland-Pfalz, Sachsen, and Niedersachsen. The surname is also widespread in other countries throughout central and northern Europe, including Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands as well as the United Kingdom. It has been suggested that the original Winken surname likely originated in the German region of Bavaria, although precisely when remains unknown.
In addition, the surname is believed to have English roots. This could be attributed to the overtures of English colonizers in the later 1800's, as Germany and the Germanic states were once territories of the British Empire. Therefore, the Winken name is likely to have spread to the American colonies, with people of British and German descent bringing the name to the United States during the 1700s and 1800s.
Today, the Winken name is less common in America than it is in Europe, with the U.S. Census Bureau placing the current U.S. population bearing the surname at around 800 people. Still, the surname appears to be most popular in the areas near the original settlement destinations of British colonizers in the 1600s. The majority of Winkens are concentrated in Pennsylvania, with states such as New York, New Jersey, and Maryland also supporting appreciable numbers of people with the surname. Additionally, the name is still popular among immigrants to the United States, comprising mainly of Germans, Dutch, and Austrians.
Variations of the surname Winken
The surname Winken is a variant of the German name "Wincken". Other spellings and variants include "Winken", "Winkin", "Winkiner", "Winking", "Winkler", "Winklhofer", and "Winkelhofer". The root of the name is Winkle, from the early Middle High German word winkle, meaning "stream" or "brook", which is also related to the older Germanic name Winkel, meaning "corner".
The Winken surname is found mainly in Germany with smaller populations present in Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States. Historically, it was most common in the regions of Bavaria, Austria, Prussia, and other parts of Northern Germany.
The earliest known surviving record of the Winken surname is from 1211 in Germany, where a certain "Heinricus de Winken" is mentioned. It is likely that he was a landowner in the area.
It is believed that the people with the Winken name today descend from the ancient Germanic tribes, and they may have descended from one single family. The earliest Winkens likely served as farmers and small merchants throughout Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.
Today, Winken is still found mostly in northeastern Europe, but it can also be found in the United States among the German immigrants who settled there in the 19th century.
Famous people with the name Winken
- Ellen Winkelman: vocalist, songwriter, and former beauty pageant contestant
- Robert Winkelman: former Major League Baseball player
- Mary Jane Winkelman: pioneering Early American painter
- Benjamin Winken: Dutch diplomat and foreign policy adviser
- Julie Winken: art director and film producer
- Charles Winken: former Brazilian president
- Linda Winken: German businesswoman
- Amadeus Winken: German journalist and editorial writer
- Rebecca Winken: American lawyer and former Missouri state representative
- Hermanus Winken: Dutch professor and historian
- Thadeus Winken: Dutch inventor and cheese producer