Winn
A surname of English origin referring to someone who lived near or worked at a meadow or pasture.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 25,947 Americans carry the last name Winn. That puts it at #1,611 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 7.57 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 13,210 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Winn surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
26K
1 in 13,210
Census rank
#1,611
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
7.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
22K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 22,316 bearers of the surname Winn in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 7.57 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1611th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Winn, the largest self-reported group is White at 75.3%. The next largest groups are Black (18.0%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Winn
The surname Winn is of English origin, believed to have derived from the Old English word "wine," meaning "friend" or "protector." It is thought to have initially been used as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who was considered a loyal and trustworthy companion.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Winn date back to the 12th century in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire. It is found in medieval records such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where it appears as "Wyne" and "Wynne."
During the 13th century, the name Winn began to appear in various forms, including "Winne," "Wyn," and "Wynne." One notable early bearer of the name was Roger Wynn, a landowner from Cheshire, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1286.
In the 14th century, the name continued to spread across England, and several notable individuals emerged. One such person was John Wynn, a merchant from London, who was mentioned in the Patent Rolls of 1348. Another was Thomas Wynn, a prominent lawyer and judge from Gwydir, Wales, who lived from 1380 to 1460.
As the centuries progressed, the Winn family established themselves as prominent landowners and influential figures in various parts of England and Wales. One of the most notable members of the family was Sir John Wynn, 1st Baronet of Gwydir (1553-1627), who served as a member of Parliament and was a prominent figure in the Welsh gentry.
Other notable individuals with the surname Winn include Robert Wynn (1697-1763), a Welsh mathematician and astronomer; Samuel Wynn (1629-1687), an English clergyman and author; and Richard Wynn (1588-1649), a Welsh politician and Member of Parliament during the English Civil War.
Throughout its history, the surname Winn has been associated with various places and regions across England and Wales, including Winsford in Cheshire, Winnington in Shropshire, and Wynne Hall in Denbighshire, Wales, which served as the ancestral home of the Wynne family for several centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Winn
Among Census respondents with the surname Winn, the largest self-reported group is White at 75.3%. The next largest groups are Black (18.0%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Winn bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Winn surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White75.3%
- Black or African American18.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
- Two or more races2.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Winn surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,611 | #1,611 | 0.0% |
| Count | 22,316 | 22,316 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 7.57 | 7.57 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Winn bearers went from 22,316 to 22,316 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,611 to #1,611.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Winn
FAQ
Winn surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Winn?
The surname Winn holds position #1,611 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 25,947 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 7.57 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Winn surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Winn, the largest self-reported group is White at 75.3%. The next largest groups are Black (18.0%) and Hispanic (2.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.