Windfield last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Windfield

A locational surname referring to a field or clearing with wind characteristics.

Windfield, 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 Windfield surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Windfield in America

Windfield is the 82908th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Windfield surname appeared 227 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 Windfield.

We can also compare 2010 data for Windfield 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 82908 69428 17.70%
Count 227 264 -15.07%
Proportion per 100k 0.08 0.10 -22.22%

The history of the last name Windfield

The surname Windfield originates from England, with its earliest known usage traced back to the medieval period, specifically around the 12th century. The name is thought to have been derived from Old English elements "wind," meaning wind itself, and "feld," referring to an open field or a cleared area of land. This combination would suggest that the name likely referred to someone who lived near or on a particularly windy field.

The earliest references to the name Windfield can be found in rural parish records and local manuscripts from the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. An example of an old record mentioning the surname dates back to a tax record from the year 1273, where a Richard de Windfeld is noted. This indicates that the family may have been landowners or held some prominence during that time.

One significant historical figure bearing this surname was Sir Robert Windfield, born in 1435 and passing in 1492. He was a knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses on the side of the House of York and was known for his loyalty to Edward IV. His contributions to the Yorkist cause earned him considerable land and titles.

Another notable individual was John Windfield, born in 1582, who was a prominent merchant and shipbuilder based in Liverpool. His endeavors significantly contributed to the maritime strength of the city during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His descendants continued to be influential in trade and commerce well into the 18th century.

The Windfield name also appears in cultural records, with Elizabeth Windfield, an accomplished poetess born in 1675 in London. Her works were known for their vivid imagery of rural England and played a minor role in the literary landscape of the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, Dr. Thomas Windfield emerged as a significant figure within the medical community. Born in 1824 and passing in 1898, he was a pioneering physician whose medical practices and written contributions influenced the treatment of infectious diseases, particularly during outbreaks of cholera.

Lastly, Captain James Windfield, born in 1840, was well-known for his naval career within the British Royal Navy. He played key roles in several maritime explorations and served with distinction during numerous military engagements, earning him various honors until his retirement in 1885.

Each person bearing the Windfield surname reflects a long-standing heritage that spans various facets of English history, from military exploits and commercial enterprises to cultural contributions and medical advancements. The surname Windfield threads a rich tapestry through centuries of English life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Windfield

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

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 Windfield was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 25.11% 57
Non-Hispanic Black Only 68.28% 155
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 (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 3.52% 8

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 Windfield has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 25.11% 28.79% -13.65%
Black 68.28% 66.29% 2.96%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 3.52% 3.41% 3.17%

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 Windfield was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Windfield last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/windfield-surname-popularity/.

"Windfield last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/windfield-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

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

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