UK surname
English surname transferred from a nickname referring to someone with a snail-like personality.
In the 1881 census there were 93 people recorded with the Winkles surname, ranking it #20,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 71, ranked #33,633, down from #20,593 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Naseby, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Winkles is 111 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.7%.
1881 census count
93
Ranked #20,593
Modern count
71
2016, ranked #33,633
Peak year
1911
111 bearers
Map years
2
1901 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Winkles surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Winkles surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 54 | #23,577 |
| 1861 | historical | 64 | #25,747 |
| 1881 | historical | 93 | #20,593 |
| 1891 | historical | 97 | #24,447 |
| 1901 | historical | 102 | #22,596 |
| 1911 | historical | 111 | #21,392 |
| 1997 | modern | 87 | #28,749 |
| 1998 | modern | 92 | #28,680 |
| 1999 | modern | 91 | #28,937 |
| 2000 | modern | 92 | #28,832 |
| 2001 | modern | 87 | #29,161 |
| 2002 | modern | 86 | #29,771 |
| 2003 | modern | 85 | #29,877 |
| 2004 | modern | 84 | #30,244 |
| 2005 | modern | 84 | #30,359 |
| 2006 | modern | 84 | #30,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 81 | #31,408 |
| 2008 | modern | 85 | #31,247 |
| 2009 | modern | 88 | #31,352 |
| 2010 | modern | 90 | #31,621 |
| 2011 | modern | 89 | #31,659 |
| 2012 | modern | 83 | #32,611 |
| 2013 | modern | 80 | #33,058 |
| 2014 | modern | 75 | #33,473 |
| 2015 | modern | 76 | #33,351 |
| 2016 | modern | 71 | #33,633 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Naseby, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naseby | Northamptonshire |
| 2 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 2 |
| 4 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 5 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Winkles surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Winkles, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Winkles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Winkles household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Winkles is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Winkles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Winkles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Winkles is believed to have originated in England during the Medieval period. Its origins can be traced back to the coastal regions, particularly in the southern and western parts of England. The name Winkles appears to be derived from an old English word or a dialectal term 'wincel' or 'wincle,' which refers to a corner or nook, or possibly relating to 'winkle,' a small edible sea snail commonly found along the coast.
Early historical records of the surname Winkles appear in various medieval documents and registers. One of the earliest recorded instances of a similar surname can be located in the Domesday Book of 1086, though exact matches to Winkles are less clear owing to variances in spelling and transcription over the centuries.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname comes from the 13th century with a Roger Wincel appearing in tax records in 1273 in Oxfordshire. Throughout history, the spelling of Winkles has varied, seen also as Wincel, Wyncle, or Winkell, among others.
Several notable individuals bearing the surname Winkles have been recorded through history. Thomas Winkles, born around 1500, was a notable figure in the coastal community of Sussex, contributing to maritime activities of the time. John Winkles, born in 1652, was known for his work as a merchant in London, dealing specifically in goods imported from coastal towns.
In the 18th century, Georgina Winkles, born in 1725, made her mark as a writer and poet, her works often reflecting the natural beauty of the English seaside. William Winkles, born in 1802, is perhaps one of the better-documented individuals with this surname. As an artist and engraver, his works were widely appreciated in the early 19th century, particularly his illustrations of various architectural landmarks.
The surname appears to have remained relatively localized, with clusters forming around coastal towns in England, such as Cornwall and Devon, and rarely spreading inland or far afield until more modern times. Winkles as a surname thus carries with it a rich heritage linked closely to England's maritime history and its coastal communities.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Winkles surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Warwickshire leads with 40 Winkles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.87x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 40 | 17.87x |
| Northamptonshire | 15 | 17.97x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 1.46x |
| Leicestershire | 9 | 9.15x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.47x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 1.34x |
| Buckinghamshire | 2 | 3.73x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.66x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.86x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 22 Winkles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.49x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 22 | 29.49x |
| Aston | 14 | 22.72x |
| Islington London | 8 | 9.30x |
| Abthorpe | 6 | 4285.71x |
| Brackley St Peter | 6 | 1052.63x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 5 | 21.72x |
| Humberstone | 5 | 617.28x |
| Leicester St Mary | 4 | 50.31x |
| Mile End Old Town | 4 | 28.55x |
| Thurlaston | 3 | 3000.00x |
| Handsworth | 2 | 27.10x |
| Ramsgate | 2 | 40.49x |
| Sedgley | 2 | 17.97x |
| Aylesbury | 1 | 42.02x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 3.74x |
| Chilvers Coton | 1 | 108.70x |
| Kings Norton | 1 | 9.62x |
| Northampton St Giles | 1 | 31.45x |
| Silverstone | 1 | 285.71x |
| Stoke Bruern | 1 | 384.62x |
| Wendover | 1 | 172.41x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Winkles surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Winkles surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Winkles households.
FAQ
In 1881, 93 people were recorded with the Winkles surname. That placed it at #20,593 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 71 in 2016. That gives Winkles a modern rank of #33,633.
English surname transferred from a nickname referring to someone with a snail-like personality.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Winkles bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.