NameCensus.

UK surname

Winterson

Originated as a derived locational surname for someone from a place where there was a windmill or windy town.

In the 1881 census there were 199 people recorded with the Winterson surname, ranking it #12,880 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 216, ranked #18,613, down from #12,880 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cheshunt St Mary, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, Knowsley and Blaenau Gwent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Winterson is 268 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.5%.

1881 census count

199

Ranked #12,880

Modern count

216

2016, ranked #18,613

Peak year

1911

268 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Winterson had 199 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,880 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 216 in 2016, ranked #18,613.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 268 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Winterson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Winterson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Winterson 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 134 #14,033
1861 historical 163 #14,242
1881 historical 199 #12,880
1891 historical 236 #13,278
1901 historical 248 #13,204
1911 historical 268 #12,332
1997 modern 211 #17,048
1998 modern 211 #17,532
1999 modern 212 #17,611
2000 modern 208 #17,772
2001 modern 205 #17,683
2002 modern 214 #17,545
2003 modern 196 #18,358
2004 modern 188 #18,919
2005 modern 199 #18,198
2006 modern 193 #18,675
2007 modern 195 #18,799
2008 modern 188 #19,387
2009 modern 186 #19,946
2010 modern 196 #19,698
2011 modern 199 #19,346
2012 modern 200 #19,207
2013 modern 203 #19,327
2014 modern 207 #19,259
2015 modern 213 #18,769
2016 modern 216 #18,613

Geography

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Where Wintersons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cheshunt St Mary, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and Bishops Cannings. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Liverpool, Knowsley, Blaenau Gwent, Bristol and Cornwall. 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 Cheshunt St Mary Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Bishops Cannings Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Liverpool 059 Liverpool
2 Knowsley 001 Knowsley
3 Blaenau Gwent 004 Blaenau Gwent
4 Bristol 049 Bristol, City of
5 Cornwall 037 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Winterson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Winterson

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Winterson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Winterson is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Winterson 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 Winterson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Winterson

The surname Winterson is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have originated from the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire in Northern England. Winterson is a patronymic surname, which means it is derived from the given name of an ancestor, likely indicating "son of Winter." The name Winter itself originates from the Old English word "wintra," meaning winter, possibly indicating someone who was born during that season or characterized by qualities associated with winter.

The earliest recorded instance of the Winterson surname appears in medieval manuscripts and records from the 13th and 14th centuries. An early reference can be found in the Lancashire Assize Rolls from 1246, which mentions a Richard Winterson. This document provides critical evidence of the surname's existence during that period. Another appearance of the name is in the 1379 Poll Tax records for Yorkshire, where a John Winterson was listed as a taxpayer.

Over the centuries, the surname Winterson has appeared in various forms, including Winterson, Wintersun, and Wintersone. These variations are reflections of regional dialects and the fluid nature of spelling in historical records. One notable individual bearing the surname was William Winterson, who was recorded in the 1524 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex. Another significant figure was Thomas Winterson, mentioned in a 1591 legal document in London.

Among the more famous individuals with the surname is John Winterson, a 17th-century clergyman known for his sermons and religious writings. In the literary world, Jeanette Winterson, born in 1959, has garnered international acclaim as a novelist and writer. Through her works and public presence, she has brought significant attention to the Winterson name in contemporary times.

Numerous instances of the Winterson surname have appeared in various historical documents over the centuries. This reflects the family’s spread and the name's persistence through English history. From its medieval origins to its current recognition in literature, the surname Winterson encapsulates a rich heritage grounded in English cultural and linguistic traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Winterson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Winterson 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. Gloucestershire leads with 45 Wintersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.76x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 45 11.76x
Middlesex 35 1.79x
Wiltshire 33 19.13x
Brecknockshire 21 53.83x
Surrey 18 1.89x
Somerset 13 4.14x
Hertfordshire 12 8.92x
Lancashire 10 0.43x
Leicestershire 7 3.24x
Essex 2 0.52x
Kent 2 0.30x
Hampshire 1 0.25x
Sussex 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 15 Wintersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.64x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Philip Jacob 15 41.64x
Cheshunt 12 255.32x
Stapleton 12 165.29x
Mile End Old Town 8 25.98x
Battersea 7 9.75x
Lambeth 7 4.12x
Llangattock 7 220.13x
Loughborough 7 71.28x
Westminster St James 7 34.90x
Bedminster 6 20.33x
Bridgewater 6 70.34x
Bristol St George 6 33.90x
Bristol St Paul In 6 58.88x
Hulme 6 12.41x
Swindon 6 44.84x
Chelsea London 5 8.50x
Devizes St Mary 5 287.36x
Fisherton Anger 5 156.74x
Llangunider 5 205.76x
Chirton 4 1739.13x
Devizes St James 4 174.67x
Islington London 4 2.12x
Llanelly 4 85.65x
St George Hanover 4 15.71x
Talgarth 4 412.37x
Bristol St Augustine 3 48.62x
Devizes St John 3 230.77x
Kirkdale 3 7.70x
Pewsey 3 236.22x
St George In East 3 22.61x
Bromley 2 19.70x
Clifton 2 10.34x
Southwark St Saviour 2 19.94x
West Lavington 2 240.96x
Aldershot 1 7.46x
Clapham 1 4.10x
Crickhowell 1 111.11x
Eastbourne 1 6.61x
Kensington London 1 0.92x
Leyton Low 1 12.77x
Little Ilford 1 149.25x
Market Lavington 1 107.53x
Newington 1 1.39x
Paddington London 1 1.39x
Pucklechurch 1 116.28x
St Luke London 1 3.20x
St Pancras London 1 0.64x
West Derby 1 1.48x
Wraxall 1 166.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Sarah 10
Elizabeth 9
Ann 5
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Esther 3
Florence 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Emily 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Priscilla 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Allice 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Edith 1
Elizh. 1
Frances 1
Frankette 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
J.P. 1
Jane 1
Janey 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Nellie 1
Priss 1
Ruth 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Zilpha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
George 9
John 9
Thomas 6
James 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Charles 3
Henry 3
Herbert 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Alexander 1
Alfd. 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
D. 1
David 1
Ed. 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Gorge 1
H.A. 1
Hy. 1
Jas. 1
Josh. 1
Matthew 1
O. 1
Oliver 1
Richard 1
T.J. 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Winterson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Winterson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 199 people were recorded with the Winterson surname. That placed it at #12,880 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Winterson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 216 in 2016. That gives Winterson a modern rank of #18,613.

What does the Winterson surname mean?

Originated as a derived locational surname for someone from a place where there was a windmill or windy town.

What does the Winterson map show?

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