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

Winker, 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 Winker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Winker in America

Winker is the 34223rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Winker surname appeared 663 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 Winker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Winker 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 Winker

The surname Winker has its roots in medieval Germany, with its etymology tracing back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Middle Low German word "winken," which means "to gesture" or "to beckon." This connection suggests that the original bearers of the name could have been known for their use of gestures, perhaps as a part of their profession or character.

The regions where Winker was most commonly found included areas in Northern Germany, particularly in the province of Lower Saxony and the Hanseatic cities. Documents indicate that variations of the name such as Wyncker, Wincer, and Wynker appeared in local records and municipal archives. These early records indicate that the name was often associated with individuals involved in trade, craftsmanship, or other professions requiring regular interaction and communication.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name Winker dates back to the 14th century in the city of Hamburg. A Johan Winker was noted in the Hamburger Stadtbuch of 1374, marking him as a prominent figure in the trade community. This historical reference underscores the surname's association with commercial activities in one of the region's major economic hubs.

In the late 15th century, another record of the surname appears in Lübeck, another Hanseatic city, where a merchant named Heinrich Winker is mentioned in a 1491 trade ledger. These records from Lübeck suggest that the Winker family was involved in the bustling trade networks that characterized the Hanseatic League during this period.

Frederick Winker, born in 1642 and died in 1715, was a notable figure credited with advancements in local agricultural practices in the Brandenburg region. His work earned him mentions in agricultural journals of the time and helped elevate the status of the Winker name within the rural communities.

Another significant historical figure was Magdalena Winker, who lived between 1730 and 1792. As an artisan and member of the Guild of Textile Weavers in Leipzig, she made substantial contributions to the craft and was highly respected among her peers. Her work remains documented in several guild records from the 18th century.

In the early 19th century, a Johann Georg Winker, born in 1798 and died in 1857, gained recognition as a clockmaker in the Black Forest region. His meticulously crafted timepieces were sought after, as evidenced by surviving town records and business directories from that era, highlighting the family's continued association with skilled trades.

Marie Winker, a pioneering educator born in 1845 and died in 1910, made a lasting impact on educational reform in Bavaria. Her contributions to developing modern teaching methods were celebrated in educators' circles, and her name appears in several educational publications from the late 19th century.

The evolution of the surname Winker across the centuries illustrates its deep-rooted connections to various professional fields, particularly those requiring interaction, craftsmanship, and trade. These historical references from different regions and periods highlight the surname's longstanding presence and the prominence of some of its bearers in their respective domains.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Winker

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

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

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

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