NameCensus.

UK surname

Winmill

An English toponymic surname derived from a location name containing the elements "win" meaning "pasture" and "mill".

In the 1881 census there were 116 people recorded with the Winmill surname, ranking it #18,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 273, ranked #15,800, up from #18,126 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Portsmouth, Wolverhampton and Blaenau Gwent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Winmill is 338 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 135.3%.

1881 census count

116

Ranked #18,126

Modern count

273

2016, ranked #15,800

Peak year

1999

338 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Winmill had 116 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,126 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016, ranked #15,800.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 310 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Winmill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Winmill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Winmill 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 113 #15,815
1861 historical 84 #23,058
1881 historical 116 #18,126
1891 historical 203 #14,754
1901 historical 246 #13,269
1911 historical 310 #11,180
1997 modern 315 #13,111
1998 modern 333 #12,964
1999 modern 338 #12,922
2000 modern 328 #13,129
2001 modern 323 #13,083
2002 modern 318 #13,475
2003 modern 314 #13,419
2004 modern 310 #13,589
2005 modern 295 #13,972
2006 modern 298 #13,973
2007 modern 304 #13,927
2008 modern 295 #14,303
2009 modern 291 #14,742
2010 modern 292 #15,018
2011 modern 294 #14,798
2012 modern 288 #14,934
2013 modern 290 #15,107
2014 modern 294 #15,047
2015 modern 282 #15,417
2016 modern 273 #15,800

Geography

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Where Winmills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Whitchurch or Felton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Portsmouth, Wolverhampton, Blaenau Gwent, Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter and Caerphilly. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Whitchurch or Felton Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Portsmouth 012 Portsmouth
2 Wolverhampton 010 Wolverhampton
3 Blaenau Gwent 008 Blaenau Gwent
4 Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter Aberdeenshire
5 Caerphilly 002 Caerphilly

Forenames

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First names often paired with Winmill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Winmill

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Winmill, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Winmill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Winmill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Winmill is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Winmill 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

Winmill falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Winmill is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Winmill

The surname Winmill is of English origin, with its history tracing back several centuries. Its roots can be found predominantly in the rural areas of England where milling was a common occupation. The name is occupational, derived from the Old English words "wind" and "myln", which denote a windmill. As such, it is likely that the original bearers of the surname were individuals who worked at or lived near a windmill, a crucial structure for grinding grain into flour.

During the Middle Ages, windmills became increasingly common in England, leading to the adoption of related surnames. The earliest spellings of Winmill included variations such as Windmill and Windmylle, reflecting phonetic interpretations before standardization of English spelling. The first recorded use of the name can be found in old tax records and parish registers from the late 13th to early 14th centuries.

One of the earliest documented instances of the surname appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327, where a John de Wyndemulle is mentioned. This document provides a valuable glimpse into the surname's early usage. Another historical reference includes Richard Wyndmylle, who is mentioned in the Patent Rolls of Henry VIII’s reign in 1538.

In the 17th century, an individual named Thomas Winmill gained prominence. Born in 1615, Thomas Winmill was well-known for his role as a miller in the region of Norfolk. His meticulous records and historical writings about the operation of windmills have provided significant insights into the milling industry of that era.

Another notable figure is William Winmill, who lived from 1760-1841 and was a successful agricultural innovator. His work in promoting more efficient farming techniques around Kent earned him a degree of local fame and respect.

In the literary world, Mary Winmill, born in 1878 and passing away in 1955, contributed significantly as an author of children’s books. Her stories often depicted rural English life, and her surname hints at her familial connection to milling.

Additionally, in the field of architecture, George Winmill (1890-1965) is remembered for his contributions to early 20th-century English architectural design. His work on restoring traditional windmills has preserved numerous historical structures that might have otherwise been lost to time.

The surname Winmill, therefore, encapsulates a rich heritage rooted in England’s agrarian past. Through various historical references and notable individuals bearing the name, the legacy of Winmill remains tied to the essential role that windmills played in English community and economy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Winmill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Winmill 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. Monmouthshire leads with 22 Winmills recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.89x.

County Total Index
Monmouthshire 22 26.89x
Somerset 18 9.88x
Northamptonshire 17 15.97x
Surrey 12 2.18x
Glamorgan 8 4.06x
Lancashire 8 0.60x
Middlesex 6 0.53x
Gloucestershire 5 2.25x
Bedfordshire 4 6.83x
Essex 4 1.79x
Kent 4 1.04x
Yorkshire 4 0.36x
Oxfordshire 2 2.86x
Berkshire 1 1.18x
Worcestershire 1 0.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberystruth in Monmouthshire leads with 11 Winmills recorded in 1881 and an index of 152.57x.

Place Total Index
Aberystruth 11 152.57x
Guildford St Nicholas 11 1134.02x
Helmdon 9 4285.71x
Whitchurch 9 4500.00x
Nailsea 8 1111.11x
Liverpool 7 8.58x
Orton 7 23333.33x
Rudry 6 4000.00x
Newport 5 128.21x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 19.15x
Shoreditch London 4 8.15x
Woburn 4 784.31x
Mynyddyslwyn 3 92.88x
Newington 3 97.09x
Ramsgate 3 47.62x
Prittlewell 2 64.52x
Rhydgwern 2 2000.00x
Stanton St John 2 952.38x
Upper Machen 2 357.14x
Beverley St Martin 1 53.48x
Bristol St James In 1 30.67x
Clevedon 1 52.91x
Greenwich 1 5.55x
New Windsor 1 34.97x
Oldbury 1 13.76x
Penge 1 13.83x
Rettendon 1 357.14x
Risca 1 64.94x
Slapton 1 1666.67x
St George Hanover 1 6.77x
Toxteth Park 1 2.20x
Wanstead 1 25.58x
Westminster St John 1 7.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Sarah 6
Agnes 4
Annie 4
Mary 4
Hannah 3
Alice 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Martha 2
Rhoda 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Harriat 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Janah 1
Jeanette 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Nellie 1
Sarrah 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
Charles 5
Frederick 4
Henry 4
John 4
Thomas 4
George 3
Harry 3
Samuel 2
Albt. 1
Alfd. 1
Cyril 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Fredric 1
G.F. 1
Hallet 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Nathaniel 1
Orlando 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Steven 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Winmill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Winmill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 116 people were recorded with the Winmill surname. That placed it at #18,126 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Winmill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016. That gives Winmill a modern rank of #15,800.

What does the Winmill surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from a location name containing the elements "win" meaning "pasture" and "mill".

What does the Winmill map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Winmill 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.