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

Wingster, 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 Wingster surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wingster in America

Wingster is the 146201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wingster surname appeared 113 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 Wingster.

The history of the last name Wingster

The surname Wingster originates from England and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have emerged in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire during the 12th or 13th century. The name appears to be a composite of Old English elements, where "wing" could be derived from "wincel," meaning a nook or corner, and "ster," an Old Norse suffix indicating a person or a place. This points to its early usage likely referring to someone living at or near a corner of a particular geographic feature, such as a field or settlement.

Old records and manuscripts where Wingster appears are scarce but notable. One of the earliest documented references is in the Poll Tax Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, where a John Wengstere is listed, suggesting that the name was in use by this time and already had variations in spelling.

The Domesday Book does not list Wingster, but place names and earlier spellings suggestive of Wingster’s roots include names like Wingate and Winster found in the Domesday records, which could be early iterations or closely linked in etymological development. In the 15th century, there was a noted legal document titled the Feet of Fines involving a Thomas Wengster of Lancashire, showing the surname Wingster in use in legal and formal records.

Prominent historical figures bearing the name include William Wingster, a merchant in London in the mid-1600s, born in 1618 and recorded in civic documents until his death in 1684. Sarah Wingster, born in 1752, was a philanthropist in Lancashire and is remembered for her contributions to local charities until her death in 1810.

Captain Robert Wingster, born in 1820, served in the British Royal Navy and saw action during the Crimean War, earning distinctions for bravery before his passing in 1886. Another figure is Elizabeth Wingster, born in 1835, an early advocate for women's suffrage in England, who significantly influenced the movement until her death in 1901.

Lastly, Edward Wingster, an industrialist born in 1855, played a major role in the development of the textile industry in Northern England, with his activities well documented until his death in 1922. Throughout its history, the surname Wingster has retained a connection to its origins while appearing in various forms, reflecting the linguistic and social changes over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wingster

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

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 Wingster 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.

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

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

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