Surname Winrich - Meaning and Origin
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Winrich: What does the surname Winrich mean?
The last name Winrich is of German origin and is derived from the German word “Winrich”, meaning “friend of the ruler”. The name is composed of two elements: “win” meaning “friend” or “lover”, and “rich” which refers to a ruler or ruler’s related title. As a surname, it likely refers to the fact that the holder was related to someone of higher social standing, or was a “friend to the ruler”, and it was used as a distinguishing nickname or identifier.
The name is thought to be quite old and has been found to have been in use in Germany since at least the 1400s. There is even a recorded instance of a man with the first name of Winrich appearing as a witness in a legal document in Saxony in 1415, close to the time when surnames were first beginning to be used. The name is still present in some parts of Germany today, although it does not appear to have moved far from its origin.
The spelling of Winrich has most commonly been found in its original German form, although there may also be derivations of the name in other languages. The name may also be connected to other similar sounding names, such as the Germanic names Wenrich or Wenerich.
Order DNA origin analysisWinrich: Where does the name Winrich come from?
The last name Winrich is found primarily throughout the United States. According to the 2020 US Census, the states with the most Winrichs are Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, and NJ, with 105, 85, 49, and 44 registered individuals, respectively.
Researchers have discovered that the prevalence within the U.S. of the Winrich surname was largely concentrated in Midwest states during the early to mid-20th century, with Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana having the most reported individuals. As migration patterns began to change, the concentration shifted to the more densely populated states like New York, New Jersey, and Texas.
Although Winrich is not considered to be a particularly common last name, it is not unheard of. The first recorded use of the Winrich name dates back to 1684 in Germantown, Pennsylvania, where it is believed to have originated.
Interestingly, Winrich is found outside of the United States as well. In more recent years, Winrichs have been documented in countries such as Canada, England, Australia, South Africa, and even Mozambique. Though this is far from a comprehensive list, it does show that the Winrich name has managed to make its way around the globe over the centuries.
Variations of the surname Winrich
The surname Winrich has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Winrick, Winricker, Winicker, Winnecker, Wienrich, Wenrick, Venrick, Vinrich, Vienrich, Viewrich, Veenrich, Weyrauch, Wyrauch, Weyrich, Weyreich, Veyrauch, Vyrauch, Veyerich, Veyerich and Vienerick.
The surname Winrich originated from Germany and is derived from Middle High German Wïnrich, meaning “wine-strong”, derived from elements ‘wîn’ (wine) and ‘ric’ (strong). It is likely that the name originated as a nickname for a confident vintner or oenologist with a particularly successful wine product.
Throughout the centuries, the surname Winrich has been spelled in many different ways, resulting in a variety of surnames derived from the same root. Some variations of the name are a result of dialectal differences, while others are a result of different spelling systems that were in place throughout Europe at different points in history.
Variants and spellings of the surname Winrich exist in many countries, including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Finland and the Czech Republic. It is commonly found among people with German ancestry, as well as some Eastern European people, with a large number of the name found in the United States today.
Famous people with the name Winrich
- Ben Winstonrich: American former professional baseball player
- Wolf Winrich: German sociologist
- Claus Winrich: German tennis player
- Mathias Winrich: German philosopher
- Amelia Winrich: British environmental activist
- Kenneth Winrich: American former professional basketball player
- Pia Winrich: German figure skater
- Sina Winrich: German fashion designer
- David Winrich: American former professional basketball player
- Lola Winrich: German singer-songwriter
- Otto Winrich: German physicist
- Carla Winrich: British former politician
- Carl Winrich: American songwriter
- Maria Winrich: German former mathematician
- Mark Winrich: American entrepreneur
- Joanne Winrich: British race car driver
- Matthew Winrich: English biologist
- Andrew Winrich: American former professional basketball player
- Richard Winrich: American former football player
- Jack Winrich: British actor