2000
#123,314
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 129
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Windstein
A surname indicating one who lived near a rocky promontory or windy location.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 124 Americans carry the last name Windstein. That puts it at #150,935 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,764,148 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Windstein surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
124
1 in 2,764,148
Census rank
#150,935
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
108
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 108 bearers of the surname Windstein in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150935th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Windstein, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Windstein
The surname Windstein is believed to originate from the German-speaking regions of Europe, likely in the medieval period around the 12th to 14th centuries. Majority of surnames in these regions emerged as populations grew and communities sought ways to differentiate between individuals with similar first names. Windstein appears to be of toponymic origin, which means it is derived from geographical locations or landmarks.
Tracing the etymology, the name Windstein likely combines two Germanic elements: "wind," which refers to the wind, and "stein," meaning stone or rock. Together, Windstein could have originally described a place characterized by a prominent rocky formation exposed to strong winds, possibly denoting a settlement or fortification in such a locale.
The name Windstein likely has ties to the region of Alsace in modern-day France, which historically hosted various German-speaking communities. The area is known for the Château de Windstein, a notable castle whose history dates back to at least the 12th century. The castle itself, perched on a rocky outcrop, fittingly aligns with the name's etymological implications of wind and stone. The name Windstein has appeared in various historical documents and records in this context.
One of the earliest known mentions of the surname Windstein can be found in 1371 in an official tax record from the Alsace region. A documented individual, Johann von Windstein, is listed as owning land in the area. This early reference provides a glimpse into the prominence of the name within local nobility.
Another historical figure of note is Konrad Windstein, born in 1432, who served as a knight under the Holy Roman Empire. Records indicate that Konrad participated in several significant battles to protect the eastern boundaries of the empire, securing his family's name in the annals of medieval military history.
In the late 16th century, Margareta Windstein (1563–1624), a notable scholar and linguist, achieved recognition for her translations of several classic works into German. Her contributions to the literary scene of the period were remarkable, and her works were well-received across the educated elite of the time.
Hans Windstein, born in 1610 and deceased in 1678, was a reputed artisan and masons. His craftsmanship contributed to several significant architectural projects in the region, including the restoration of multiple historic churches. Hans's legacy in architecture and construction left an indelible mark, celebrated in local chronicles.
Another notable bearer of the surname, Friedrich Windstein (1690–1745), a prominent merchant, played a crucial role in establishing trade routes between southern Germany and northern Italy. His efforts in the trade significantly impacted the economic landscape, facilitating cultural exchange and prosperity during that period.
The surname Windstein continues to be associated with historical prestige and contributions spanning various fields from military to academia and trade. Understanding its etymology and historical context reveals a rich tapestry of human endeavors tied to this evocative name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Windstein
Among Census respondents with the surname Windstein, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Windstein bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Windstein surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.8% · 97
- Two or more races5.6% · 6
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.8% · 3
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Windstein
Windstein appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#146,201
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
-16 bearers (-12.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 22,887 places
2020
#150,935
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
-5 bearers (-4.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 4,734 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #123,314 | 129 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #146,201 | 113 | 0.04 | -16 bearers (-12.4%) | Down 22,887 places |
| 2020 | #150,935 | 108 | 0.04 | -5 bearers (-4.4%) | Down 4,734 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Windstein surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #146,201 | #150,935 | -3.2% |
| Count | 113 | 108 | -4.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -9.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Windstein bearers went from 113 to 108 (-4.4% change). The surname moved down 4,734 positions in the national ranking, going from #146,201 to #150,935.
FAQ
Windstein surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Windstein?
Name Census estimates that about 124 living Americans carry the surname Windstein. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,764,148 residents.
How common is Windstein?
Windstein ranks #150,935 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 108 people with the surname Windstein. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (124), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Windstein.
Has Windstein become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Windstein went from 113 recorded bearers to 108. That is a decrease of 5 (-4.4%). In the national ranking it fell from #146,201 to #150,935.
What does the Census say about the background of Windstein?
Among Census respondents with the surname Windstein, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Windstein in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.8% (97 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Windstein appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (89.8%), Two or More Races (5.6%), Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Windstein (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Windstein mean?
A surname indicating one who lived near a rocky promontory or windy location. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Windstein (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Windstein?
See how many people have the surname Windstein on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.