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

Winstanley, 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 Winstanley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Winstanley in America

Winstanley is the 40909th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Winstanley surname appeared 533 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 Winstanley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Winstanley 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 Winstanley

The surname Winstanley has its origins in England, specifically from the North West region. The name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, dating back to the early medieval period, around the 12th century. It is derived from a place name in Lancashire. The name comes from the Old English words "wynn," meaning pasture or meadow, "stan," meaning stone, and "leah," meaning wood or clearing, translating to "stone meadow clearing."

Winstanley first appears in historical records in connection with the Winstanley township in the parish of Wigan, in Lancashire. The earliest recorded instance of the name appears in the 13th century. According to Lancashire Assize Rolls, one of the earliest references is to a Roger de Wynstanleye in the year 1246, indicating that the surname was already established by then.

The Winstanley family was historically associated with the manorial estates of the same name. These estates were significant during medieval times, and records from the period often mention the Winstanleys in connection with land holdings and noble activities. For instance, Sir Thomas Winstanley of Winstanley Hall was a notable figure whose family had influence during the late medieval and early modern periods.

Perhaps the most well-known historical figure bearing the surname Winstanley is Gerrard Winstanley (1609-1676). He was a prominent English political activist and one of the founders of the Diggers movement, which was related to agrarian socialism and influenced by the English Civil War's social unrest. His writings and actions had a significant influence on later social movements.

In later centuries, other individuals carrying the Winstanley surname made notable contributions. For example, Henry Winstanley (1644-1703) was a distinguished engineer and builder, known for constructing the first Eddystone Lighthouse, which was completed in 1698 but unfortunately destroyed during a storm in 1703, taking Winstanley’s life along with it.

Additionally, we have Benjamin Winstanley, a cartographer who made significant contributions to topographical studies in the 18th century. His maps and works provided detailed surveys that were instrumental during that period before modern mapping techniques.

In the 19th century, James Winstanley (1822-1892) was a Victorian era architect who contributed to the development of public buildings and private residences in the United Kingdom. His works remain a testament to the era's architectural styles and innovations.

Overall, the surname Winstanley carries with it a rich heritage rooted in English history, marked by its associations with nobility, social movements, and contributions to various professional fields. The name endures as a reminder of its diverse historical significance and the impact made by individuals from its lineage over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Winstanley

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

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

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

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