Show ContentsWinter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Winter Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Winter

What does the name Winter mean?

The origins of the Winter surname date back to the time of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It comes from an early member of the family who was a person born in the wintertime having derived from the Old English word wintar, meaning wet season. 1

Early Origins of the Winter family

The surname Winter was first found in Gloucestershire.

"The natural seasons gave personal names in the same way. ' Summer and Winter are both ancient names; in the Cod. Dip. Alamannioe there are two brothers called respectively Sumar and Winter, A.D. 858. Winter was also the name of one of the companions of Hereward the Saxon. 'Although a pre - Norman personal name, Winter survived the Conquest, and attained hereditary honours as a surname in the 13th cent. " 2

Another source postulates "most probably the Old English personal name Wintra (A.D. 699) and Uuintra (A.D. 704), associated in the popular mind with Old English winter, 'winter'. " 3

And another notes "Winter was the name of one of the companions of the Anglo-Saxon Hereward, and Winter and Sommer are both German and modern Danish names. " 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Wynter Mariot in Norfolk and Gelle Winter in Cambridgeshire, so as you can see the name was in use as both a forename and surname from very early times. 2

Further to the north in Scotland, "Elsi, son of Winter, had a grant of the lands of Thirlstane from Hugh de Morville before 1162. Jop Wyntyr was a charter witness at Yester in 1374. " 3

Early History of the Winter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Winter research. Another 179 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1162, 1379, 1447, 1452, 1474, 1487, 1488, 1494, 1572, 1589, 1600, 1603, 1606, 1622, 1642, 1645, 1646, 1658, 1661, 1665, 1666, 1668, 1671, 1673, 1686 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Winter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Winter Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Winter has been spelled many different ways, including Winter, Winters, Wynter and others.

Early Notables of the Winter family

  • Thomas Winter or Wintour (1572-1606), an English conspirator, the younger brother of Robert Winter of Huddington, Worcestershire. "They were descended from Wintor, the castellan of Carnarvon, their na...
  • Admiral Sir William Winter or Wynter (d. 1589), was from an "old Brecknock family, the elder son of John Wynter (d. 1646), merchant and sea-captain of Bristol, and (1645-1646) Treasurer of the Navy. "...
  • Sir John Winter (1600?-1673?), was Secretary to Queen Henrietta Maria, born probably about 1600, the son and heir of Sir Edward Winter of Lydney, Gloucestershire
  • Samuel Winter (1603-1666), was Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, born at Temple Balsall, a chapelry in the parish of Hampton-in-Arden, Warwickshire, the son of Christopher Winter, a yeoman from Oxfo...

Winter World Ranking

the United Kingdom, the name Winter is the 429th most popular surname with an estimated 15,058 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Winter is ranked the 422nd most popular surname with an estimated 8,832 people with that name. 6 And in New Zealand, the name Winter is the 341st popular surname with an estimated 1,850 people with that name. 7 Canada ranks Winter as 893rd with 6,007 people. 8 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Winter as 542nd with 85 people. 9 The United States ranks Winter as 1,079th with 27,357 people. 10 France ranks Winter as 2,458th with 2,500 - 3,000 people. 11 Netherlands ranks Winter as 501st with 3,460 people. 12

Migration of the Winter family to Ireland

Some of the Winter family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Winter migration to Australia +

Winter Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Winter, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Miss Ann Winter, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Mr.Robert Winter, British settler who was convicted in Yorkshire, England for life for stealing money, transported aboard the "Fortune" on 31st October 1812, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Mr. William Winter, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for life, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 16
  • Mr. Benjamin Winter, (b. 1801), aged 29, English ploughman who was convicted in Hertfordshire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "David Lyon" on 29th April 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Winter migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Winter Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Winter, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston aboard the ship "Eagle" arriving in New Zealand in 1850 18
  • Child Winter, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston aboard the ship "Eagle" arriving in New Zealand in 1850 18
  • Mr. Winter, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Traveller" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 22nd July 1859 19
  • Mrs. Winter, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Traveller" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 22nd July 1859 19
  • David Winter, aged 40, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Anne Longton" in 1860 18
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Winter migration to Canada +

Winter Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Catharina Winter, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
  • Mr. Joseph Winter U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 20
  • Mr. Peter Winter U.E., (Winters) who settled in Elizabeth Town [Elizabethtown], Leeds County, Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Royal Regiment of New York 20
  • Mr. Henry Winter U.E., (Winters) who settled in Elizabeth Town [Elizabethtown], Leeds County, Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Royal Regiment of New York, married at time of arriving 20
Winter Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Heinrich Winter, who arrived in Manitoba in 1876

Winter migration to the United States +



Winter Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Winter, who settled in Maine in 1616
  • Robert Winter, who settled in Virginia in 1616
  • Edward Winter, who settled in Maryland in 1634
  • Ann Winter, who landed in Virginia in 1636 21
  • Margaret Winter, who settled in Virginia in 1660
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Winter Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Heinrich Winter, who settled in New York State in 1710-11
  • Abraham Winter, who arrived in New England in 1724 21
  • Hans Winter, who settled in Philadelphia in 1733
  • Hendrick Winter, who landed in New Jersey in 1744 21
  • Hans Georg Winter, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 21
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Winter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Ehris Winter, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1803 21
  • Ehric Winter, who settled in Philadelphia in 1803
  • Jakob Winter, who arrived in Ohio in 1833 21
  • Conrad Winter, who settled in Philadelphia in 1834
  • Edward Winter, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 21
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Winter (post 1700) +

  • Henry Winter (b. 1963), English sports journalist
  • Edward Winter (1773-1830), English professional cricketer
  • Arthur Henry Winter (1844-1937), English Anglican priest and cricketer
  • John Strange Winter (1856-1911), pen-name of Henrietta Eliza Vaughan Stannard, an English novelist
  • Jean-Pierre Winter (1951-2025), French psychoanalyst and writer, born in Paris
  • Faith Winter (1980-2025), American politician, Member of the Colorado Senate (2019-2025), Member of the Colorado House of Representatives (2015-2019), killed in a car accident on the evening of November 26, 2025
  • Joanne "Jo" Emily Winter (1924-1996), American pitcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943-1950)
  • Michael Winter (b. 1965), English-born, Canadian writer in Newfoundland, author of five novels and three collections of short stories
  • William Forrest Winter (1923-2020), American attorney and politician, 58th Governor of Mississippi from 1980 to 1984
  • ... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Halifax Explosion
  • Mrs. Annie  Winter (1885-1917), Canadian resident from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 22
  • Mr. Douglas Winter, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 23
  • Miss Thirza Winter, English 2nd Class passenger residing in New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 24
  • Mr. William Henry Winter, English 1st Class Passenger from Liverpool, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking by escaping on either life boat 17, 19 25
  • Mr. Robert Winter, Newfoundlander from Poole's Island, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he survived
  • ... (Another 1 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. 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)
  4. Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
  5. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  6. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  7. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  8. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  9. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  10. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  11. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  12. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-lyon
  18. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  19. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  20. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  21. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  22. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  23. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  24. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/

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