Winterfield History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Winterfield

What does the name Winterfield mean?

The German state of Prussia, which reached the zenith of its power in the late 19th century, is the glorious birthplace of the distinguished surname Winterfield. In the medieval era, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the German lands were inhabited by a variety of Barbarian tribes. The borders of the Barbarian kingdoms changed frequently, but the region that became known in Prussia was roughly divided between the areas of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia, and East Prussia. The colorful history of Brandenburg-Prussia, which is essentially the birthplace of modern Germany, provides a glimpse at the oldest origins of the Winterfield family.

Early Origins of the Winterfield family

The surname Winterfield was first found in the Mark Brandenburg, where the name was associated with the development of an emerging nation which would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. They are one of the most ancient families associated with the Mark region, where they had their ancestral estates already under Kaiser Heinrich der Vogler. In later years the name branched into many houses, each playing a significant role in the local social and political affairs.

Early History of the Winterfield family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Winterfield research. Another 224 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1671, 1706 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Winterfield History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Winterfield Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Winterfield include Winterfeld, Winterfeldt, Winterfelder, Winterfeldter and many more.

Early Notables of the Winterfield family

Hans Carl von Winterfeldt, a Prussian lieutenant general, Governor of Colberg, knight of the Order of the Black Eagle, lord of the estates Schmarsow in the Uckermark and Borschow in Silesia, who...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Winterfield Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Winterfield family

Prussia played an extremely influential role in shaping modern German history. It remained a part of Germany until after the Second World War. Prussia was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. Many Prussians became residents of these new countries after the War, and many migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly to Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Winterfield were Friedrich Winterfeldt, who came to Texas with his wife and five children in 1851.