NameCensus.

UK surname

Winterton

A surname originating from an English place name meaning "winter town".

In the 1881 census there were 683 people recorded with the Winterton surname, ranking it #5,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 768, ranked #7,143, down from #5,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Terrington St Clement, Terrington St John and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, Harborough and Charnwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Winterton is 973 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.4%.

1881 census count

683

Ranked #5,281

Modern count

768

2016, ranked #7,143

Peak year

1911

973 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Winterton had 683 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 768 in 2016, ranked #7,143.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 973 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Winterton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Winterton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Winterton 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 458 #5,402
1861 historical 495 #5,279
1881 historical 683 #5,281
1891 historical 762 #5,234
1901 historical 851 #5,356
1911 historical 973 #4,646
1997 modern 872 #6,113
1998 modern 895 #6,186
1999 modern 923 #6,087
2000 modern 896 #6,195
2001 modern 855 #6,307
2002 modern 859 #6,417
2003 modern 842 #6,383
2004 modern 813 #6,581
2005 modern 789 #6,673
2006 modern 772 #6,826
2007 modern 780 #6,830
2008 modern 781 #6,886
2009 modern 796 #6,922
2010 modern 806 #6,984
2011 modern 800 #6,952
2012 modern 790 #6,911
2013 modern 800 #6,954
2014 modern 783 #7,124
2015 modern 767 #7,177
2016 modern 768 #7,143

Geography

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Where Wintertons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Terrington St Clement, Terrington St John, Nottingham St Mary, Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, Harborough, Charnwood, South Holland and Mansfield. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Terrington St Clement, Terrington St John Cambridgeshire
3 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
4 Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) Cambridgeshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 006 Fenland
2 Harborough 006 Harborough
3 Charnwood 015 Charnwood
4 South Holland 010 South Holland
5 Mansfield 010 Mansfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Winterton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Winterton

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Winterton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Winterton 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Winterton 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

Winterton is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Winterton falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Winterton 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 Winterton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Winterton

The surname Winterton has its origins in England. The name is locational, derived from several places named Winterton in the counties of Lincolnshire and Norfolk. The name Winterton itself comes from the Old English words "winter" and "tun," meaning a farm or settlement occupied only in winter.

Winterton appears in historical records in England dating back to the medieval period. One of the earliest mentions can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed among the settlements the Normans cataloged after their conquest of England.

An early recorded example of the surname is Robert of Winterton, found in the Lincolnshire archives from 1296. Given the locational nature of the name, it became common for individuals who moved away from these places to take the name Winterton to denote their origin.

The spelling of the name has remained relatively consistent over the centuries, though variations such as Winerton and Wintartone appear in medieval manuscripts and early modern records. The stability of the spelling is a testament to the name's deep roots in specific English locations.

Sir Thomas Winterton, born in 1592 and died in 1655, is a notable historical figure who carried the surname. He was a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire and played a role in local governance during a tumultuous period in English history.

Another significant figure is General Sir Edward Winterton, born in 1744 and died in 1827. He served with distinction in the British Army, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars, earning recognition for his strategic acumen and bravery.

The name also appears in ecclesiastical records. Reverend James Winterton, born in 1716 and died in 1790, was a notable vicar who authored several theological works and contributed to religious discussions of his time.

John Winterton, an important legal figure born in 1796 and died in 1854, is noteworthy. He served as a judge and his decisions influenced English common law, particularly in the areas of property and contract law.

Lastly, Lady Margaret Winterton, born in 1842 and died in 1925, was known for her philanthropic activities. She established several charitable institutions in Lincolnshire, focusing on education and healthcare, and left a lasting legacy in her community.

This historical overview portrays the surname Winterton as not just a name, but a marker of geographical origin, social significance, and personal achievement over centuries in English history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Winterton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Winterton 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. Leicestershire leads with 118 Wintertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.95x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 118 15.95x
Middlesex 69 1.03x
Lincolnshire 64 6.00x
Norfolk 63 6.14x
Rutland 45 91.86x
Warwickshire 41 2.44x
Yorkshire 37 0.56x
Derbyshire 35 3.35x
Cambridgeshire 31 7.34x
Nottinghamshire 31 3.45x
Surrey 29 0.89x
Northamptonshire 22 3.51x
Lancashire 14 0.18x
Kent 12 0.53x
Hertfordshire 11 2.39x
Cheshire 10 0.68x
Huntingdonshire 9 6.79x
Gloucestershire 8 0.61x
Berkshire 7 1.40x
Sussex 7 0.62x
Staffordshire 6 0.27x
Carmarthenshire 3 1.07x
Essex 3 0.23x
Hampshire 3 0.22x
Suffolk 2 0.25x
Devon 1 0.07x
Dorset 1 0.23x
Oxfordshire 1 0.24x
Stirlingshire 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 59 Wintertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.71x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 59 32.71x
Nottingham St Mary 28 12.04x
Empingham 20 1063.83x
Stamford All Sts 18 301.51x
Terrington St John 18 1168.83x
Ockbrook 17 382.88x
Wellingborough 16 50.71x
Hackney London 15 4.01x
Walpole St Peter 15 576.92x
Whittlesey St Mary St 15 101.63x
Terrington St Clement 12 259.18x
Birmingham 11 1.96x
Islington London 10 1.55x
Mitcham 9 43.80x
Ramsey 9 84.83x
Walton On Trent 9 891.09x
Wisbech St Peter 9 42.47x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 6.49x
Gedney 8 183.49x
Great Casterton 8 1081.08x
Leicester St Mary 8 13.38x
Liverpool 8 1.66x
Syston 8 115.61x
Beckenham 7 23.52x
Bulkington 7 192.31x
Greetham 7 526.32x
Normanton 7 35.23x
Quorndon 7 168.67x
Seals 7 268.20x
Aston 6 1.30x
Barrow Upon Soar 6 98.20x
Cannock 6 15.27x
Curdworth 6 389.61x
Hampstead London 6 5.77x
Lambeth 6 1.03x
Little Casterton 6 1463.41x
Long Itchington 6 228.14x
Sale 6 33.20x
Southcoates 6 16.35x
Sutterton 6 283.02x
Tilney St Lawrence 6 363.64x
Willesden 6 9.54x
Brighton 5 2.20x
Brightside Bierlow 5 3.86x
Clapham 5 5.99x
Deeping St Nicholas 5 160.26x
Horsforth 5 34.48x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 5 16.23x
Leicester All Sts 5 34.41x
Leverington 5 179.86x
Mile End Old Town 5 4.75x
Stamford St George 5 104.38x
Wath On Dearne 5 37.91x
Battersea 4 1.63x
Boston 4 12.36x
Buglawton 4 112.99x
Chaddesden 4 287.77x
Great Hadham 4 134.68x
Hendon 4 16.66x
Reading St Giles 4 8.14x
St Gilesin Fields 4 102.83x
Stamford St John 4 277.78x
Stanstead Abbots 4 143.37x
Baston 3 169.49x
Denton 3 17.10x
Earley 3 35.97x
Hemingby 3 326.09x
Hinckley 3 17.09x
Hougham 3 22.16x
Huncote 3 283.02x
Llanelly 3 4.74x
Marske In Guisbrough 3 25.55x
Rothley 3 125.00x
St Marylebone London 3 0.84x
Stamford Baron St Martin 3 89.29x
Thurmaston North 3 312.50x
Tinwell 3 588.24x
Westminster St 3 12.20x
Pelhams Lands 2 540.54x
Snenton 2 5.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 47
Elizabeth 27
Sarah 22
Eliza 18
Ann 17
Emma 14
Annie 11
Jane 10
Alice 9
Maria 8
Florence 7
Harriet 7
Charlotte 6
Edith 6
Louisa 6
Ada 5
Catherine 5
Elizth. 5
Fanny 5
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Kate 4
Martha 4
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Lois 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Rebecca 3
Sophia 3
Esther 2
Gertrude 2
Helen 2
Joanna 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
Margeret 2
Rachel 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Susannah 2
Amy 1
Clara 1
Emmeline 1
Ester 1
Ethel 1
Eve 1
Evelyn 1
L.B.M. 1
Violetta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 60
John 42
Thomas 27
Charles 22
George 18
Joseph 17
Henry 10
James 9
Arthur 8
Edward 8
Samuel 7
Herbert 5
Richard 5
Walter 5
Alfred 4
Frank 4
Robert 4
Abraham 3
Christopher 3
Daniel 3
Frederick 3
Fredrick 3
Harry 3
Thos. 3
Andrew 2
Arther 2
Benjamin 2
Charley 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fredk. 2
Percy 2
Ralph 2
Rowland 2
Allan 1
Allin 1
Bensley 1
Billings 1
Carl 1
Ebenizer 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Elizabeth 1
Hermles 1
Jacob 1
Jos. 1
Josh. 1
Luke 1
Wm.C. 1

FAQ

Winterton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Winterton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 683 people were recorded with the Winterton surname. That placed it at #5,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Winterton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 768 in 2016. That gives Winterton a modern rank of #7,143.

What does the Winterton surname mean?

A surname originating from an English place name meaning "winter town".

What does the Winterton map show?

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