NameCensus.

UK surname

Winning

A surname derived from the concept of achieving victory or being successful.

In the 1881 census there were 673 people recorded with the Winning surname, ranking it #5,361 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 997, ranked #5,813, down from #5,361 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkintilloch, Rutherglen and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Glenwood South, Mauchline Rural and Staffordshire Moorlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Winning is 1,035 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.1%.

1881 census count

673

Ranked #5,361

Modern count

997

2016, ranked #5,813

Peak year

2009

1,035 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Winning had 673 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,361 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 997 in 2016, ranked #5,813.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 913 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Winning surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Winning surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Winning 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 406 #5,963
1861 historical 484 #5,397
1881 historical 673 #5,361
1891 historical 819 #4,943
1901 historical 913 #5,087
1911 historical 253 #12,776
1997 modern 980 #5,593
1998 modern 1,005 #5,653
1999 modern 1,013 #5,656
2000 modern 1,014 #5,614
2001 modern 977 #5,681
2002 modern 1,012 #5,634
2003 modern 984 #5,662
2004 modern 1,018 #5,515
2005 modern 1,019 #5,463
2006 modern 1,013 #5,503
2007 modern 1,021 #5,517
2008 modern 1,025 #5,535
2009 modern 1,035 #5,618
2010 modern 1,031 #5,731
2011 modern 1,027 #5,698
2012 modern 992 #5,773
2013 modern 998 #5,835
2014 modern 1,008 #5,821
2015 modern 1,000 #5,808
2016 modern 997 #5,813

Geography

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Where Winnings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkintilloch, Rutherglen, Govan Combination, London parishes and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Glenwood South, Mauchline Rural, Staffordshire Moorlands, Braes Villages and Swindon. 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 Kirkintilloch Dunbarton
2 Rutherglen Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 London parishes London 3
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Glenwood South Glasgow City
2 Mauchline Rural East Ayrshire
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 011 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Braes Villages Falkirk
5 Swindon 008 Swindon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Winning

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Winning

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Winning surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Winning household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Winning 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

Winning is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Winning falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Winning is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Winning

The surname Winning is of Scottish origin, first appearing in historical records in the early medieval period. This surname is rooted in the regions surrounding Ayrshire and Lanarkshire in Scotland. The name Winning is believed to derive from an Old English or Old Norse word "winn", which means "meadow" or "pasture", indicating that it may have initially been used to describe someone who lived by or worked in a meadow.

One of the earliest references to the Winning surname can be found in the 13th century. A notable historical reference is a document dated 1296, where the name appears in the Ragman Rolls. These were records of the Scottish nobility who pledged allegiance to Edward I of England. Some believe the original spelling may have been Winynnge or Wynning, indicating its Old English or possibly even Norse origins.

Throughout history, the Winning surname has been associated with various localities. In early Scottish records, it appears interconnected with places known for agriculture, reinforcing the connection to meadows or agricultural lands. One early example is referenced in Ayrshire parish records in the 16th century, where a George Winning is noted as a landholder around 1560.

In the 17th century, there was a notable individual named Thomas Winning, born in 1623 and recorded as being a prominent landholder in Lanarkshire. His contributions to local agrarian policies were noted in several historical manuscripts of that time, establishing the Winning name within the socio-economic structures of the region.

Later, during the 18th century, the name gained some prominence through a John Winning, born in 1746, who was a well-known artisan in Southern Scotland. His works in stone masonry are still referenced in local historical archives, and several structures attributed to his craftsmanship remain in the region.

Moving into the 19th century, another significant figure was Thomas Winning, born in 1795, who became recognized for his contributions to the burgeoning coal mining industry in Lanarkshire. His efforts in improving labor conditions were documented in industrial records, positioning the Winning name within the narrative of Scotland's industrial progress.

Lastly, we have Margaret Winning, born in 1833, a well-documented figure during the Victorian era. Margaret Winning was known for her philanthropic activities, particularly in education and social welfare in Glasgow. Her engagements are chronicled in several charitable institution reports and local newspapers of that period.

The surname Winning, therefore, encapsulates a rich tapestry of Scottish history, deeply interwoven with the socio-economic and cultural developments from the medieval period through the Victorian era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Winning families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Winning 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. Lanarkshire leads with 368 Winnings recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.36x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 368 17.36x
Renfrewshire 69 13.58x
Ayrshire 31 6.32x
Middlesex 30 0.46x
Wiltshire 24 4.14x
Dunbartonshire 21 11.92x
Stirlingshire 17 7.03x
Surrey 17 0.53x
Oxfordshire 16 3.95x
Gloucestershire 14 1.09x
Angus 12 1.98x
Midlothian 9 1.02x
Lancashire 8 0.10x
Staffordshire 7 0.32x
Kent 6 0.27x
Cheshire 5 0.35x
Perthshire 4 1.36x
Warwickshire 3 0.18x
Argyllshire 2 1.10x
Berkshire 2 0.41x
Clackmannanshire 2 3.69x
Glamorgan 2 0.18x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.16x
Monmouthshire 1 0.21x
Northumberland 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 110 Winnings recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.50x.

Place Total Index
Barony 110 20.50x
Glasgow 51 13.55x
Rutherglen 49 157.56x
Govan 41 7.82x
Hamilton 33 55.81x
Abbey 24 30.96x
Kirkintilloch 19 79.40x
Highworth 18 242.92x
Cambusnethan 15 31.85x
Neilston 13 50.98x
Galston 11 81.97x
Shettleston 11 57.96x
Kilmarnock 10 17.13x
Blantyre 9 40.78x
Cathcart 9 32.74x
Dalziel 8 35.07x
Dundee 8 3.53x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 2.26x
Mearns 8 89.89x
New Monkland 8 12.77x
Sorn 8 82.99x
Cheadle 7 65.85x
Cheltenham 7 7.06x
Dalserf 7 33.08x
Hailey 7 246.48x
Lochwinnoch 7 92.47x
Richmond 7 15.64x
Baldernock 6 468.75x
Slamannan 6 45.32x
St Anne Soho London 6 16.03x
Wanborough 6 303.03x
Cambuslang 5 23.40x
Crawley 5 1388.89x
Denny 5 38.88x
East Kilbride 5 55.07x
Hammersmith London 5 3.10x
Lambeth 5 0.87x
Stockport 5 6.71x
Twickenham 5 17.79x
Chiswick 4 11.17x
Forfar 4 12.17x
Lee 4 12.32x
Maryhill 4 9.64x
Newington 4 1.65x
Oxford St Clement 4 39.14x
Paisley High Church 4 9.89x
Shotts 4 15.77x
St Gilesin Fields 4 104.71x
Birmingham 3 0.54x
Carmunnock 3 184.05x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 2.43x
Lanark 3 17.59x
Alloa 2 7.62x
Ardington 2 232.56x
Brimpsfield 2 240.96x
Cardiff St John 2 5.36x
Erskine 2 54.20x
Gloucester Barton St 2 26.53x
Islington London 2 0.31x
Kilmore Kilbride 2 17.27x
Kirkdale 2 1.53x
Leckhampton 2 25.25x
Litherland 2 12.30x
Loudoun 2 16.95x
Old Kilpatrick 2 9.61x
Old Monkland 2 2.38x
Rattray 2 29.20x
Willesborough 2 33.28x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 0.79x
Eastwood 1 3.20x
Forteviot 1 70.92x
Fulham London 1 1.05x
Longbenton 1 2.42x
North Leith 1 2.46x
Paddington London 1 0.41x
Painswick 1 11.00x
Portskewett 1 90.91x
Salford 1 0.44x
St George Hanover 1 1.17x
St Marylebone London 1 0.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Jane 4
Martha 4
Sarah 4
Agnes 3
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Margaret 2
Alice 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Daisy 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Fanney 1
Georgiana 1
Georgina 1
Honora 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Marth 1
Nellie 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 9
Robert 9
Thomas 6
George 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
James 3
Richard 3
Edward 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Aubrey 1
Charles 1
Edgar 1
Francis 1
G. 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hurbert 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
M. 1
Micheal 1
Percival 1
Ralley 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Winning surname: questions and answers

How common was the Winning surname in 1881?

In 1881, 673 people were recorded with the Winning surname. That placed it at #5,361 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Winning surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 997 in 2016. That gives Winning a modern rank of #5,813.

What does the Winning surname mean?

A surname derived from the concept of achieving victory or being successful.

What does the Winning map show?

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