Winsster History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Winsster is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived in the city of Winchester in Hampshire. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English word ventaceaster, meaning the dweller at the Roman fort. 1

"This place, called by the ancient Britons Caer Gwent, from the whiteness of its chalky soil, was the Venta Belgarum of Ptolemy and Antoninus; and on its subsequent occupation by the Saxons, obtained the appellation of Wintan-Ceaster, from which its present name is derived. It was probably first inhabited by the Celtic Britons, who emigrated from the coasts of Armorica, in Gaul, and came to this part of the island, finding well-watered valleys, fertile plains, and shady forests, adapted to their support, and suited to the exercise of their religious rites." 2

Early Origins of the Winsster family

The surname Winsster was first found in Hampshire where Odo de Wincestre was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. 3 Later, William de Wyncestre was recorded in Yorkshire in 1286 and John Wynchestre in Gloucestershire in 1360. 4

From the original city in Hampshire, Scotland proved to be an attractive place to move during the turbulent times. "Thomas de Wincestre of the county of Arne rendered homage in 1296 [to King Edward I of England.] Another Thomas de Wynchester rendered homage in the same year. Johan de Wincestre and Henry de Wincestre, both of the county of Lanark, also rendered homage. Jchn Wincestir was chancellor of Dunkeld in 1426, Magister Henricus Wynsister held a tenement in Glasgow in 1498, and John Wynsister was witness to a deed of 1495, William Winchestre was vicar of Grantuly in 1505, Jaspar Win-chister was a tenant of the bishop of Moray in 1565." 5

Early History of the Winsster family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Winsster research. Another 256 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1424, 1428, 1435, 1460, 1471, 1495, 1567, 1569, 1574, 1579, 1591, 1592, 1628, 1643, 1686, 1694, 1724, 1803, 1804 and 1826 are included under the topic Early Winsster History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Winsster Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Winsster family name include Winchester, Wincester and others.

Early Notables of the Winsster family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John of Winchester (d. 1460?), Bishop of Moray, who is said to have been an Englishman who ventured into Scotland in the retinue of James I on his return from England in 1424. "His name (though there are contemporary instances of it as a surname in Scotland) suggests that he may have been a priest...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Winsster Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Winsster family to Ireland

Some of the Winsster family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Winsster family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Winsster surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Andrew Winchester, who arrived in Virginia in 1639 with his wife and child; John Winchester settled in Virginia in 1636; William Winchester arrived in Maryland in 1732.

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)