Show ContentsWinner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Winner name is derived from the Middle High German word "wanne," which was a type of basket. The surname is of occupational origin for a maker or seller of winnowing fans, which were baskets used to clean grain.

Early Origins of the Winner family

The surname Winner was first found in Germany, where the name Winner came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. A bearer of Wanner is on record in Isny in the year 1250. Documents from 1301 show a Rudolf genannt (called) Wanner, who was an assessor at the court of Esslingen. Families of this name later became more prominent as numerous branches of the same house acquired distant estates, some of which were located in other countries. Through the acquisition of these estates as well as their important contributions to society, the family successfully elevated their social status.

Early History of the Winner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Winner research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1414, 1540 and 1585 are included under the topic Early Winner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Winner Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wanner, Waner, Wanler, Wenner, Wanen, Wanern, Wönner, Weiner, Wienner, Wonnen, Winner, Weynner, Wuynner, Weynen, Wansen, Wenser, Wannamaker, Wannameiker, Wennmaker, Wannamacher, Wannemacher and many more.

Early Notables of the Winner family

More information is included under the topic Early Winner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Winner Ranking

In the United States, the name Winner is the 5,595th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


United States Winner migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Winner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Catharina Christina Winner, who settled in New York in 1709
Winner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Franz Winner, who settled in America in 1834
  • Heinrich Winner, who arrived in America in 1836

Australia Winner migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Winner Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Winner (post 1700) +

  • Langdon Winner, American philosopher of technology
  • David Winner (b. 1971), retired American soccer goalkeeper
  • Charley Winner (b. 1924), American football coach
  • Lauren Winner (b. 1976), American writer and educator
  • Septimus Winner (1827-1902), American songwriter
  • Joseph Eastburn Winner (1837-1918), American composer and music publisher, best known for his tune, "The Little Brown Jug" (1869) which was famously recorded by the Glenn Miller and His Orchestra in 1939
  • Thomas D. Winner, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Atlantic County, 1853; U.S. Collector of Customs, 1854 3
  • Thomas A. Winner, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Secretary of State of West Virginia, 1972 3
  • Samuel Winner, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1964 3
  • Herman Winner, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960; Member of New York Republican State Committee, 1950 3
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook