Surname Wynder - Meaning and Origin
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Wynder: What does the surname Wynder mean?
The surname Wynder is derived from Old English words and was originally a locational name referring to someone who either came from, or was associated with a particular windy place. Specifically, the name Wynder can be traced to two possible locations in east Yorkshire - Wintringham and Wakingham. Alternatively, the name may have been a nickname for a person who was particularly bad at keeping secrets; in Old English, the word 'wynder' meant 'one who will not keep a secret'.
Today, the surname Wynder is found particularly in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and countries within Europe such as the Czech Republic and Netherlands. Within the UK, people with the surname Wynder are scattered throughout the UK, but the largest population of Wynders can be found in the county of Lincolnshire; in 2011, 0.2% of people living in Lincolnshire had the surname Wynder.
In terms of early records of the surname Wynder, it is known that the earliest recorded bearer was Robert Wynder from Aston in Derbyshire, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1207. Despite being derived from a locational name, the surname Wynder has had massive success and spread worldwide since then. This demonstrates how the origin of the surname is still apparent in the numerous places across the world that boast members of this singular family name.
Order DNA origin analysisWynder: Where does the name Wynder come from?
The last name Wynder is most common in the United States, particularly in the South. In particular, it is fairly common in Louisiana and Texas, with large numbers of people carrying the Wynder last name in these states. Many of these people are descendants of the Wynder family that was established there in the 19th century.
The Wynder name is also found in several countries in Europe, with the most pronounced numbers in England and Ireland, where the last name has been in existence since the time of the Normans. The name is also common in Italy, particularly in the Tuscany area. Furthermore, there have been several occurrences of the last name in the Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica.
In the United States, African Americans can be found carrying the Wynder last name. These people may be descendants of free persons of color, who took the Wynder name around the time of the Civil War.
Today, the last name Wynder can be found in all parts of the world, although the number of people bearing the name has decreased significantly since the 1800s.
Variations of the surname Wynder
The Wynder surname is believed to have originated in Wales and may have started with the Welsh placename name Gwynderwy. Variations of the surname spelling include Wender, Widner, Winder, Quynders and Wïnders.
Surnames of similar origin may also exist, such as Wynd, Wyder, Wyndor, Wienert, Wyand, or Wynderley. These surnames are likely derived from a diminutive form of the word "Wind" or "Winder" and may originally have referred to a place of windy or turbulent conditions.
The surname has been anglicized in some cases, resulting in the variant spellings mentioned above. One example is the more modern spelling of "Winder" being used instead of "Wynder". In other cases, families have adopted nicknames which are variants of the original surname, such as the "Wynderly" family.
The surname has also seen hybridization with a variety of other surnames over the years. Examples include Wynderwood, Wyndersmith, Wynderton, Wynderington, Winderspace, and Wynderon.
Despite the variety of spellings and surnames, they all share a common origin from the original Welsh placename name of Gwynderwy.
Famous people with the name Wynder
- Ken Wynder: Australian professional soccer player.
- Carl Wynder: American former track and field athlete who specialized in the middle distance events.
- Jami Wynder: American long-distance runner who specializes in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter events.
- Reg Wynder: Australian boxer who held multiple titles including World Bantamweight Champion.
- August Wynder: American jazz saxophonist who played alongside big names like Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and John Coltrane.
- Emille Wynder: Actor and singer, best known for playing Claudio in the Broadway rock musical, “Rent".
- Julie Wynder: British television actress who appeared in the soap opera, “EastEnders”, in the early 2000s.
- Damien Wynder: British-South African actor, best known for his role as Leon in the television series, “The Bill”.
- Wynton Wynder: American jazz trumpeter who has made numerous recordings with some of the world's most renowned jazz musicians.
- Mina Wynder: Jamaican dancehall artist who is known for her distinctive reggae-meets-hip hop style.