NameCensus.

UK surname

Winders

An occupational surname for someone who winds thread or operates a winding machine in textile manufacturing.

In the 1881 census there were 283 people recorded with the Winders surname, ranking it #10,119 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 242, ranked #17,177, down from #10,119 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Preston, Selby, Hemingborough (Barlby) and Prescot. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens and Halton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Winders is 392 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 14.5%.

1881 census count

283

Ranked #10,119

Modern count

242

2016, ranked #17,177

Peak year

1911

392 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Winders had 283 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,119 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 242 in 2016, ranked #17,177.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 392 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Winders surname distribution map

The map shows where the Winders surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Winders surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Winders over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 227 #9,448
1861 historical 240 #10,226
1881 historical 283 #10,119
1891 historical 368 #9,464
1901 historical 328 #10,943
1911 historical 392 #9,421
1997 modern 257 #14,989
1998 modern 263 #15,161
1999 modern 263 #15,267
2000 modern 262 #15,272
2001 modern 257 #15,236
2002 modern 258 #15,485
2003 modern 255 #15,416
2004 modern 254 #15,540
2005 modern 245 #15,857
2006 modern 242 #16,097
2007 modern 239 #16,449
2008 modern 254 #15,903
2009 modern 255 #16,183
2010 modern 265 #16,115
2011 modern 261 #16,145
2012 modern 247 #16,661
2013 modern 240 #17,251
2014 modern 247 #17,035
2015 modern 243 #17,141
2016 modern 242 #17,177

Geography

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Where Winders' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Preston, Selby, Hemingborough (Barlby), Prescot and Steventon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St. Helens and Halton. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Preston Lancashire
2 Selby, Hemingborough (Barlby) Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Prescot Lancashire
4 Steventon Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 011 St. Helens
2 Halton 006 Halton
3 Halton 008 Halton
4 Halton 007 Halton
5 St. Helens 017 St. Helens

Forenames

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First names often paired with Winders

These lists show first names that appear often with the Winders surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Winders

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Winders, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Winders surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Winders household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Winders is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Winders is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Winders falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Winders is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Winders, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Winders

The surname "Winders" is believed to have originated in England, potentially as early as the 12th century. It is thought to be an occupational surname, derived from the Old English word "windere," which referred to a person responsible for winding yarn or thread onto spools or bobbins.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be traced back to various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. These areas were known for their textile industries during medieval times, which could explain the origin of the name.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the surname "Winders" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated around 1230. These rolls were financial records kept by the Exchequer, and they contained entries for individuals with this surname, indicating their presence in the region at that time.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which recorded taxpayers in various parts of England. This suggests that the Winders family had become more widespread by this period.

One notable individual bearing the Winders surname was John Winders, a merchant and alderman who lived in York during the 15th century. He was mentioned in the city's records and is believed to have been a prominent figure in the local community.

Another individual of historical significance was Richard Winders, a clergyman who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He served as the Vicar of Kirton in Lindsey, Lincolnshire, and was known for his religious writings and sermons.

In the 17th century, the Winders surname appears in various parish records and court documents across England, indicating the family's continued presence in different regions of the country.

One prominent figure from this era was William Winders, a merchant and landowner who lived in Nottinghamshire in the late 1600s. He was involved in local affairs and held several positions of authority within his community.

As the centuries progressed, the Winders family continued to spread throughout England, and variations in the spelling of the surname emerged, such as "Winder" and "Wynder."

By the 19th century, individuals with the Winders surname could be found in various parts of the world, likely due to immigration and the expansion of the British Empire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Winders families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Winders surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 112 Winders' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.42x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 112 3.42x
Yorkshire 36 1.32x
Worcestershire 29 8.04x
Berkshire 19 9.17x
Middlesex 14 0.51x
Cambridgeshire 9 5.15x
Herefordshire 8 7.07x
Surrey 8 0.59x
Durham 7 0.85x
Staffordshire 7 0.75x
Perthshire 6 4.84x
Warwickshire 5 0.72x
Bedfordshire 4 2.80x
Cheshire 3 0.49x
Devon 3 0.52x
Gloucestershire 3 0.55x
Sussex 3 0.64x
Hampshire 2 0.35x
Derbyshire 1 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.27x
Oxfordshire 1 0.59x
Somerset 1 0.23x
Westmorland 1 1.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 31 Winders' recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.37x.

Place Total Index
Preston 31 35.37x
Selby 17 297.20x
Widnes 14 59.25x
Farington 10 523.56x
Parr 10 85.32x
Harpurhey 9 197.80x
Histon 9 978.26x
Lofthouse 9 220.59x
Nortonwith 8 1428.57x
Stoke Prior 7 315.32x
Abingdon St Helen 6 99.01x
Eccleston In Prescot 6 36.50x
Forgandenny 6 1016.95x
Birmingham 5 2.16x
Bishop Wilton Cum 5 943.40x
Blackburn 5 5.74x
Hackney London 5 3.23x
Steventon 5 574.71x
Dudley 4 9.13x
Hanley Castle 4 185.19x
Luton 4 16.17x
Rushall 4 72.99x
Shoreditch London 4 3.34x
Streatham 4 19.53x
Walton Le Dale 4 45.45x
Carshalton 3 58.25x
Cheltenham 3 7.18x
Cotheridge 3 1666.67x
East West Hagbourn 3 428.57x
Hallow 3 169.49x
Lancaster 3 15.39x
Rainford 3 84.75x
Suckley 3 508.47x
Tormoham 3 12.34x
Whiston 3 117.19x
Accrington 2 6.72x
Brandon Byshottles 2 19.44x
Castleton 2 6.11x
Cholsey 2 121.95x
Eastbourne 2 9.34x
Elton 2 17.67x
Gateshead 2 3.25x
Kingswinford 2 5.91x
Latchford 2 49.38x
Sledmere Cum Croom 2 416.67x
Worcester Blockhouse 2 101.01x
Abberley 1 175.44x
Alwoodley 1 238.10x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.24x
Bridlington 1 15.97x
Brighton 1 1.07x
Castle Cary 1 51.55x
Curbridge 1 175.44x
Didcot 1 285.71x
Enfield 1 5.52x
Fulwood 1 28.25x
Great Heaton 1 277.78x
Great Malvern 1 13.30x
Hammersmith London 1 1.47x
Hartlepool 1 8.57x
Hucknall Torkard 1 10.60x
Islington London 1 0.37x
Laleham 1 192.31x
Liss 1 86.96x
Litchurch 1 5.75x
Lytham 1 20.00x
Much Woolton 1 22.52x
Newington 1 0.98x
Portsmouth 1 7.67x
Reading St Giles 1 4.92x
Reading St Mary 1 6.02x
Sedgwick 1 434.78x
Stayley 1 14.37x
Sutton 1 9.10x
Tottenham 1 2.27x
Walton On Hill 1 5.64x
West Derby 1 1.04x
Westoe 1 2.15x
Willington 1 21.05x
Worcester St John 1 23.26x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Winders surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Winders surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 25
William 23
George 10
James 8
Thomas 6
Joseph 5
Albert 3
Ambrose 3
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Edward 3
Henry 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Wm. 3
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Smith 2
Tom. 2
Walter 2
Abraham 1
Alfred 1
Ansley 1
Anson 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
H. 1
Jackson 1
Joe. 1
Mary 1
Maurice 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Randolph 1
Seymour 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Vincent 1
W. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Winders surname: questions and answers

How common was the Winders surname in 1881?

In 1881, 283 people were recorded with the Winders surname. That placed it at #10,119 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Winders surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 242 in 2016. That gives Winders a modern rank of #17,177.

What does the Winders surname mean?

An occupational surname for someone who winds thread or operates a winding machine in textile manufacturing.

What does the Winders map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Winders bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.