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

Winther, 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 Winther surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Winther in America

Winther is the 27228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Winther surname appeared 888 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 Winther.

We can also compare 2010 data for Winther 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 Winther

The surname Winther can be traced back to its origins in Scandinavia, particularly Denmark and Norway, during the medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "Vetr," which translates to "winter" in English. This origin reflects either a geographical or environmental characteristic, possibly indicating that the family lived in or near a place where winter conditions were significant, or it may have been a descriptive term referring to someone with a cold demeanor or appearance.

In the early records of Scandinavian countries, the surname Winther appears in various forms, influenced by local dialects and spelling variations. One of the earliest written references to the name is found in a Danish church register from the 1600s, although the exact spelling may have varied slightly. This suggests that the name was well-established in certain areas by this period.

By the 18th century, the Winther name begins to appear more frequently in historical documents and records, with established variations like Winter and Vinther. One notable early bearer of the name was Johan Winther, a Danish shipwright born in 1735. His work in constructing naval vessels helped bolster Denmark’s maritime strength in the late 18th century. Another significant historical figure was Peder Winther, a Norwegian merchant born in 1762, whose enterprise contributed to the economic development of coastal Norway.

The name Winther also appears in immigration records during the 19th century, as waves of Scandinavians moved to other parts of Europe and the Americas. In places like the United States, settlers with the surname Winther contributed to the agricultural and urban development of the frontier. For instance, Hans Christian Winther, born in 1840 in Denmark, emigrated to the United States in the 1860s and established a successful farming operation in the Midwest.

Historic records also show the presence of the Winther name in scholarly and artistic fields. Jens Erik Winther, born in 1828, was a noted Danish painter whose works depicted rural and winter landscapes, gaining recognition throughout Scandinavia. His artistic contributions helped capture a visual record of 19th-century Danish life.

Another prominent individual was Sofie Winther, a 19th-century Norwegian poet born in 1855. Her lyrical verses often touched on themes of nature, love, and the stark beauty of the Scandinavian winters, influencing subsequent generations of Nordic writers.

The spread and legacy of the Winther surname reflect a rich tapestry of cultural and historical significance within Scandinavia and beyond. Its etymological roots, combined with the documented historical figures bearing this surname, provide valuable insights into the lives and societies of those who carried the name through the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Winther

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

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

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

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