Show ContentsWindhorst History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

  • Origins Available:
  • England
Windhorst Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Windhorst

What does the name Windhorst mean?

The name Windhorst is an occupational name for a "worker at the winding house’ (for threads, yarn, etc.) from the root word Winder." 1 Other researchers agree. 2 3

Other sources postulate different origins of the name: "the termination us is usually a contraction of house; thus Malthus stands for Malthouse, Woodus for Woodhouse, Loftus for Lofthouse, &c. By analogy, Windus would stand for Windhouse-probably a residence in an exposed situation." 4

Another source claims the name is derived from "Windrush; a location name in Gloucestershire." 5

However, we believe the occupational origin of the name is more accurate as we will explore below.

Early Origins of the Windhorst family

The surname Windhorst was first found in Yorkshire where William de Wyndhows was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. A few years later, Thomas Wyndhouse was listed as a Freeman of York in 1431 as was William Wyndowes in 1458. Later, William Wyndes was listed in the same source in 1530. All of the last three entries were weavers. 1

Early History of the Windhorst family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Windhorst research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1431, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Windhorst History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Windhorst Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Windhouse, Windows, Windus, Winders, Windes, Windos, Windo, Windoes, Wyndows, Wyndowes, Wyndo, Wyndow, Wyndoe, Windros, Windross, Windrows and many more.

Early Notables of the Windhorst family

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

Windhorst migration to the United States +



Windhorst Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joh Gerh Herm Windhorst, who landed in America in 1813-1820 6
  • Hendrik Windhorst, who arrived in Iowa in 1853-1855 6
  • Henry Windhorst, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Windhorst (post 1700) +

  • Fritz Windhorst (1935-2023), American Republican politician, Louisiana State Senator (1972-1992), United States Commissioner (1962-1969) 7
  • William F. Windhorst, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Warren, 1920, 1926 8
  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  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. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  6. 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)
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html

Houseofnames.com on Facebook