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

Winsett, 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 Winsett surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Winsett in America

Winsett is the 19865th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Winsett surname appeared 1,353 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 Winsett.

We can also compare 2010 data for Winsett 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 Winsett

The surname Winsett is of English origin, first emerging in the medieval period. It is primarily found in the southwestern counties of England, particularly Devon and Somerset. The name likely has its roots in Old English, from which it derives the elements "win," meaning "friend" or "joy," and the suffix "-sett," which is indicative of a dwelling or settlement. Thus, the name can be interpreted to mean "friend’s settlement" or "joyful settlement." This interpretation aligns with the rural and agrarian context of medieval England, where surnames often described one's dwelling or occupation.

Winsett appears in historical documents dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. Although not listed in the Domesday Book of 1086, the name shows up in various manorial rolls and tax records from the late medieval period. One early mention is found in a 1327 Subsidy Roll for Somerset where a "John de Wynsede" is listed as a taxpayer. The variant spellings Wynsede and Wynsett provide insight into its possible phonetic evolution over time.

The earliest recorded example with the exact spelling Winsett can be traced back to the parish records of Devon in the mid-16th century. A notable individual is Thomas Winsett, born around 1540, who is listed as a yeoman, indicating his status as a freeholder of his own land. The name appears sporadically in baptismal records and legal documents from this period, suggesting that it was still relatively uncommon.

In the 17th century, a notable Winsett is Edmund Winsett, born in 1602, who appears in court records for a boundary dispute in Somerset in 1635. This conflict hints at the agrarian environment in which many Winsett families lived, emphasizing land ownership and territorial rights. Another individual, Mary Winsett, born in 1668 in Devon, is recorded in marriage banns and subsequently appears as a widow applying for parish relief, providing insight into the socio-economic conditions of the time.

The 18th century saw James Winsett, born in 1715, who emigrated to the American colonies and settled in Virginia. He is recorded in colonial military documents as having served during the French and Indian War, indicating the spread of the surname beyond England. His descendants became part of the early fabric of American society, propagating the name across new generations and states.

In the 19th century, Emily Winsett, born in 1833 in Yorkshire, is mentioned in census and employment records as a schoolteacher. Her life provides a glimpse into the Victorian era's social reforms and the increasing value placed on education, particularly for women.

The surname Winsett thus encapsulates a history of rural English origins, evolving through several centuries and spreading abroad. Its bearers have made their mark in both England and the New World, contributing to their communities across generations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Winsett

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

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

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

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