Winks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Winks was first found in Worcestershire where William de la Winche was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1275. Later, Stephen atte Wynke was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327 and later again, Thomas atte Wynche was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1332. Walter Winch was found in the Pipe Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1184 and William Wynk in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1312. In Sussex, records there show William le Wynch in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. 1

The name is well established in Yorkshire since early days. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include: Ricardus Wynk; Alexander Wynk; and Robertus Wynk. 2

Just over the northern border in Scotland, it may be a "shortened form of Wineca, diminutive of the common Old English personal name Wine. Winkston near Peebles is the tun of Wink or Wynk. William Wynk who held land in Aberdeen in 1281, may be the William Wynk who rendered homage [to King Edward I of England] at Perth, 1291. " 3

"The lands of Winkston in the parish of Peebles gave name to possessors in 1262, when Alexander de Wynkistun was on the inquest for ascertaining the rights of burgesses in the moss of Walthamshope. In 1365 the lands of Winkston were in the hands of the Gledstanes." 3 The variant Winkworth hails from the north in Yorkshire, England or Scotland.