Winberg last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Winberg is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Winberg.

Meaning of Winberg

A Swedish surname originating as a topographic name for someone living near a vineyard.

Winberg, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Winberg surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Winberg in America

Winberg is the 28704th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Winberg surname appeared 830 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Winberg.

We can also compare 2010 data for Winberg to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 28704 26419 8.29%
Count 830 869 -4.59%
Proportion per 100k 0.28 0.32 -13.33%

The history of the last name Winberg

The surname Winberg has its origins in Northern Europe, primarily in Sweden. The name is a compound of two elements: "win," likely derived from the Old Norse word "vin," meaning meadow or pasture, and "berg," from the Germanic word for mountain or hill. Therefore, Winberg essentially means "meadow mountain" or "pastoral hill."

The earliest references to the name can be traced back to medieval Scandinavia, particularly during the 14th and 15th centuries. Historical records from this period show variations in the spelling of the surname, including Winbergh and Winberghe. These records were often inconsistent due to the lack of standardized spelling, but they indicate the widespread use of the name in rural and semi-urban areas.

One of the earliest documented examples of the surname appears in a 1423 tax register from Uppsala, Sweden, where a Johan Winbergh is listed as a landowner. This document is significant as it suggests that the Winberg family held some degree of prominence and property.

During the 16th century, the name appears in several legal documents and court records. For instance, in 1572, Matts Winberg was noted as a witness in a land dispute in southern Sweden. His involvement in legal proceedings indicates a certain social standing, likely belonging to a family of some repute.

Winberg is also found in historical records outside of Sweden, such as in the Baltic regions and northern Germany. For example, Erik Winberg, born in 1645, was a noted Lutheran pastor in what is now Latvia. His sermons and written works were influential during a period of religious reformation and consolidation in the region.

The name continued to be held by notable individuals into the 18th and 19th centuries. One example is Carl Winberg, born in 1760, who was a prominent botanist in Denmark. His contributions to the study of Scandinavian flora were well-regarded in scientific circles, earning him a lasting legacy in the field.

Another interesting figure is Christina Winberg, born in 1798, who was an early advocate for women's education in Sweden. Her efforts led to the establishment of several schools and educational reforms that benefited young women in her community.

By the 19th century, the name also found its way to America, often brought by immigrants seeking better opportunities. One such immigrant was Nils Winberg, born in 1823, who settled in Minnesota and became a well-respected farmer and community leader. His letters and diary entries provide a valuable glimpse into the life of Swedish immigrants during this period.

In conclusion, the surname Winberg carries a rich history rooted in Northern Europe, mainly in Sweden, with notable appearances in historical records dating back hundreds of years. Its bearers have contributed to various fields, from religion and science to education and community leadership, leaving a lasting impact on their respective spheres.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Winberg

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Winberg.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Winberg was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 96.63% 802
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.20% 10
Hispanic Origin 1.08% 9

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Winberg has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 96.63% 97.70% -1.10%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.20% 0.69% 53.97%
Hispanic 1.08% 1.04% 3.77%

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Winberg was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Winberg, please contact us.

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"Winberg last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/winberg-surname-popularity/.

"Winberg last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/winberg-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Winberg last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/winberg-surname-popularity/.

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