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

Winniford, 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 Winniford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Winniford in America

Winniford is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Winniford surname appeared 109 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 Winniford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Winniford 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 Winniford

The surname Winniford likely originates from England, with its earliest roots traceable to the medieval period around the 12th or 13th century. The name appears to be toponymic, meaning it is derived from a geographical location. Specifically, Winniford may have originated from a place name, possibly influenced by ancient locality names such as "Wynyard" or "Winford," which can be found in various parts of England. The name itself is composed of Old English elements: "Wyn," meaning joy or pleasure, and "ford," meaning a shallow crossing place in a river or stream.

Earliest recorded references to variations of the surname Winniford can be traced back to medieval manuscripts and legal documents. One such reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like compilation of landowners and taxpayers in England, wherein a John de Wynneforde is mentioned. This indicates that the name was well-established by the late 13th century and suggests a location-based origin.

In the 14th century, documents from the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield give us an appearance of Thomas de Wynford, recorded in 1314. This record further substantiates the surname’s medieval English origins and helps in visualizing its geographical spread within the country through known manorial records.

A notable individual carrying a variation of this surname was Richard Winford, a merchant who lived in the mid-16th century. Born around 1520 and dying in 1585, Winford was active in Bristol, a major commercial hub of England, which demonstrates the social mobility and geographical dispersion of the surname.

The name also finds mention in marriage records in the 17th century. Elizabeth Winniford appears in parish registers in London, marrying Thomas Field in 1648. These records are essential in tracking the diffusion of the surname through urban migrations during the growth of the Protestant Reformation in England.

Another significant reference is Captain James Winniford, who served in the British Royal Navy in the early 18th century. Born in 1693 and passing away in 1759, his career illustrates the ways individuals bearing the surname participated in the maritime ventures of the British Empire.

Finally, historical records from the American colonies indicate the presence of William Winniford, who emigrated to Virginia in 1635. His descendents played a role in early American colonial history, ventures, and military activities. William's journey underscores the spread of the surname beyond English borders and into new colonial territories.

Overall, the surname Winniford boasts a rich and varied history with roots deeply embedded in the medieval landscape of England. It reflects a narrative of geographical origin, dispersal, and adaptation spanning several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Winniford

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!