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

Winnett, 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 Winnett surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Winnett in America

Winnett is the 18596th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Winnett surname appeared 1,482 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Winnett.

We can also compare 2010 data for Winnett 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 Winnett

The surname Winnett has its origins in the British Isles, most likely derived from Wales. The name dates back to medieval times and is derived from the Old Welsh personal name Gwynedd, which itself is linked to the kingdom of Gwynedd, a historic region in North Wales. The Welsh word "Gwyn" means "white" or "blessed," and it was often used as a part of names to denote purity or fair complexion.

The name Winnett appears in historical records, including old manuscripts and legal documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. It evolved from various spellings, including Winnet, Wynett, and Wynette. An early recorded version is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcester in 1275, listing a John Wynet.

By the 16th century, the name Winnett had established itself in various regions of England and Wales, appearing in court records, land deeds, and parish registers. One notable individual is William Winnett, born in 1562 in London, who became a merchant and was known for his trading ventures in the late Tudor period.

Another prominent figure was Elizabeth Winnett, born in 1625, who is documented in the Hearth Tax returns in the 1660s, indicating she was a landowner of some significance in Suffolk.

In the 18th century, Thomas Winnett (born 1723), a noted legal scholar, published several treatises on common law and left a lasting mark on the legal community of his time. His works are still referenced by historians and legal scholars today.

In America, the surname appeared among early settlers, with John Winnett, born in 1742, being one of the first recorded Winnetts in the American colonies. He was a farmer who eventually took part in the American Revolutionary War, contributing to the fight for independence.

The name also appears in the context of maritime history, with Captain Samuel Winnett, a merchant mariner born in 1803. He captained several vessels during the early 19th century, facilitating trade between Britain and the Caribbean.

Throughout history, the surname Winnett has been associated with individuals who made their mark in various fields, from commerce to law and exploration. Although less common today, the name carries a rich heritage dating back to the earliest days of Welsh civilization and medieval Britain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Winnett

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

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

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

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