Surname Winteridge - Meaning and Origin
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Winteridge: What does the surname Winteridge mean?
The last name Winteridge is of English origin. It is an occupational name which was given to a person who resided near or worked at a winter dyke. A winter dyke was a yet-to-be-ploughed land located near a settlement or town. The field was used for the winter storage of crops, and the people who tended to these fields were known as “Winteridgers”.
The surname has been found mostly in Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall in England, indicating that it was most likely brought over from these regions by early settlers. It is possible that the name originates from an old Anglo-Saxon or Celtic term – “winterset”, which had the same meaning as “winter dyke”.
The name Winteridge is first recorded in England in the late Middle Ages, when it was used as a surname. It is thought to have been used by tenant farmers, as well as members of craft guilds or merchant classes who worked or otherwise established themselves near the winter storage fields.
Today, Winteridge is considered a rare surname, with relatively few people bearing it around the world. Variations of the surname, such as Wintridge and Wynteridge, are also found, though their prevalence is scarce.
Order DNA origin analysisWinteridge: Where does the name Winteridge come from?
The last name Winteridge is most common in the United Kingdom, particularly in England. It is most prevalent in counties in the southeast of the country, such as Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, and Northamptonshire. Although many of these locales are near to London, the majority of those with the surname in these areas live further out, in small towns and rural villages.
At a national level, Winteridge is a relatively uncommon last name, ranking close to 11,000th in terms of frequency. In England and Wales, however, its frequency increases to around 1,000th, which suggests that the surname is much more popular regionally. It is most commonly found among families living in the counties of Warwickshire and Oxfordshire in particular.
Those with the name Winteridge living in the United Kingdom today are likely predominantly descended from ancestors who lived in these region in the past. It is likely that those living in the area since the 1800s have stayed in the same location, or at least in the same region, giving the appearance that the surname is more common in this region than in others.
Variations of the surname Winteridge
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Winteridge are numerous and cover a wide range of spellings. Some of the most common variations are Wintridge, Winteredge, Wintredge, Wyntridge, Wynteridge, Wintrich, and Wyntrich. The surname has also been known to be spelled Wynterredge, Winkredge, Wintreck, Wintrik, and Wynterick.
The Welsh variant of this spelling is Wintridge and can be found in the earliest records stretching back to the 13th century. This variant also has a variant spelling in the form of Wintrich. In some of these early records, this surname is also seen spelled as Winderidge.
The spelling Wyntridge is another Welsh variant, found mainly in South Wales, and again stretching back to the 13th century. This spelling is more likely to be associated with the ‘wynt-‘ prefix, meaning “travel”, so a person with this surname could have been a traveler or a wanderer.
In some records, we also see the spelling variant Wynteridge. This variant, which we often see paired with the ‘-ridge’ suffix, could denote either a ‘river ridge’, or, more likely, a wooded ridge.
From the various spellings of the surname, it is clear that Winteridge is a very old surname with origins stretching back centuries. The various spellings offer insight into the various geographical locations of members of the Winteridge family, and their occupations.
Famous people with the name Winteridge
- Sir George Winteridge: Prominent British Politician in the late eighteenth century.
- Melissa Winteridge: Award-winning Author, columnist, and lecturer, known for her works on gender and race.
- Jude Winteridge: Australian-born Singer and Musician, best known for her 2008 double album "Winteridge".
- William Winteridge: English Artist, active in the 19th century. His landscapes often featured rural scenes, historical monuments, and English country houses.
- Jennifer Winteridge: American Actress and Producer, best known for her award-winning portrayal of Tracey in the television series "Mystic City".
- Edward Winteridge: British Financier, credited with helping to spark the industrial revolution in the United Kingdom.
- Benedict Winteridge: English Philosopher and Political Theorist, known for his works on moral judgment and justice.
- Amelia Winteridge: Acclaimed Canadian Painter, best known for her floral landscapes and still lifes.
- Christopher Winteridge: Award-winning Screenwriter and Playwright, known for his works on contemporary British Social Issues.
- Robert Winteridge: Renowned British Architect, credited with redesigning and restoring several English cathedrals.