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

Winfrey, 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 Winfrey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Winfrey in America

Winfrey is the 5187th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Winfrey surname appeared 6,740 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Winfrey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Winfrey 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.

The history of the last name Winfrey

The surname Winfrey is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "wine" meaning friend and "fri" meaning free, peaceful, or secure. This combination suggests that the name Winfrey was originally bestowed upon someone who was considered a trustworthy and loyal companion or protector.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Winfrey can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical record lists a person named Winefrid, which is believed to be an earlier spelling variation of the surname Winfrey.

During the Middle Ages, the name Winfrey was primarily concentrated in the counties of Somerset, Wiltshire, and Dorset in the southwest region of England. It is believed that the name may have originated from a place name, possibly a location called Winfrey or Winfrith, although historical references to such places are scarce.

In the 16th century, the Winfrey surname appeared in various records, including parish registers and tax rolls. One notable bearer of the name was John Winfrey, a merchant and landowner from Dorset who lived in the mid-1500s. Another early example is William Winfrey, born in 1598 in Somerset, who was a member of the local gentry.

As the centuries passed, the Winfrey surname continued to be found across various regions of England, with several individuals making their mark in various fields. One such person was Sir Richard Winfrey (1720-1792), a successful businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Great Marlow.

Another notable Winfrey was Samuel Winfrey (1736-1825), a renowned clockmaker and inventor from Clerkenwell, London. His innovative designs and contributions to horology earned him recognition among his contemporaries.

In the literary realm, the name Winfrey is associated with James Winfrey (1791-1865), an English poet and clergyman who published several volumes of poetry and religious works during his lifetime.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Winfrey in America can be traced back to Edward Winfrey, who arrived in Virginia from England in the mid-17th century and became a prominent planter and landowner.

While the surname Winfrey may not be as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history spanning several centuries, with notable bearers contributing to various aspects of society, from politics and business to literature and craftsmanship.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Winfrey

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

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 Winfrey was:

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

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

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

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