NameCensus.

UK surname

Winwood

A locational surname derived from a location with a wooded area.

In the 1881 census there were 511 people recorded with the Winwood surname, ranking it #6,667 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 989, ranked #5,852, up from #6,667 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kingswinford, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick and Kidderminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire and Worcester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Winwood is 1,048 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.5%.

1881 census count

511

Ranked #6,667

Modern count

989

2016, ranked #5,852

Peak year

1998

1,048 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Winwood had 511 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,667 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 989 in 2016, ranked #5,852.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 749 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Winwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Winwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Winwood 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 436 #5,639
1861 historical 411 #6,248
1881 historical 511 #6,667
1891 historical 598 #6,402
1901 historical 653 #6,621
1911 historical 749 #5,747
1997 modern 990 #5,551
1998 modern 1,048 #5,450
1999 modern 1,041 #5,528
2000 modern 1,042 #5,499
2001 modern 1,021 #5,494
2002 modern 1,011 #5,638
2003 modern 978 #5,693
2004 modern 975 #5,710
2005 modern 940 #5,827
2006 modern 949 #5,799
2007 modern 968 #5,762
2008 modern 969 #5,786
2009 modern 996 #5,784
2010 modern 1,030 #5,735
2011 modern 1,034 #5,662
2012 modern 1,000 #5,731
2013 modern 1,017 #5,745
2014 modern 1,018 #5,779
2015 modern 1,003 #5,792
2016 modern 989 #5,852

Geography

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Where Winwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kingswinford, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, Kidderminster, Bridgnorth St Leonard and St Mary Magdalen and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire and Worcester. 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 Kingswinford Worcestershire
2 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
3 Kidderminster Worcestershire
4 Bridgnorth St Leonard and St Mary Magdalen Shropshire
5 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 033 Shropshire
2 Worcester 007 Worcester
3 Shropshire 031 Shropshire
4 Worcester 013 Worcester
5 Shropshire 035 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Winwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Winwood

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Winwood, 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 Winwood surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Winwood 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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Winwood is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Winwood 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

Winwood 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 Winwood 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 Winwood, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Winwood

The surname Winwood traces its origins to England, emerging during the medieval period. It is a locational surname, which means it was derived from the name of a place where the original bearers lived or owned land. Winwood likely originates from a pre-existing place name, possibly a combination of the Old English elements "wynn," meaning "pleasure" or "joy," and "wudu," meaning "wood." This suggests that the original place would have been a pleasant or joyful wood.

The name Winwood appears in historical records and manuscripts, with early mentions dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. One early reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a person named William de Wynwode is mentioned. This document was a census of sorts, listing the inhabitants of various counties in England, thus providing a snapshot of family names in use during that time.

By the 16th century, individuals with the surname Winwood were becoming more prominent. Sir Ralph Winwood (1563–1617) was an important figure in English history, serving as Secretary of State under King James I. His involvement in politics and diplomacy made him a notable person of his time. His career helps to underline the position and influence individuals bearing this surname could achieve.

The name Winwood also appears in parish registers from the 16th and 17th centuries. For example, the marriage records of John Winwood, dated 1620, can be found in the parish of All Hallows, London Wall, contributing to the family's documented history in England. These records highlight the spread and establishment of the surname within society.

A well-known bearer of the Winwood surname in more recent history includes Steve Winwood, born in 1948, an acclaimed English musician whose career has spanned several decades. His fame in the fields of rock and blues music has brought additional recognition to the name. Another notable Winwood is Samuel Winwood (1842–1916), an English clergyman and author known for his theological contributions.

Throughout history, the surname Winwood has maintained a presence primarily within England, its distinct combination of Old English elements reflecting the pastoral and wooded landscapes from which it likely originated. The documented appearances of this surname in official records, combined with the achievements of its notable bearers, provide a rich tapestry of historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Winwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Winwood 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. Worcestershire leads with 179 Winwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.45x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 179 27.45x
Staffordshire 105 6.23x
Warwickshire 53 4.21x
Durham 41 2.76x
Middlesex 38 0.76x
Shropshire 37 8.57x
Lancashire 27 0.46x
Somerset 9 1.12x
Surrey 6 0.25x
Monmouthshire 4 1.11x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.45x
Devon 2 0.19x
Hertfordshire 2 0.58x
Bedfordshire 1 0.39x
Derbyshire 1 0.13x
Essex 1 0.10x
Gloucestershire 1 0.10x
Hampshire 1 0.10x
Herefordshire 1 0.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 26 Winwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.50x.

Place Total Index
Aston 26 7.50x
Kidderminster Borough 26 68.12x
Bridgnorth St Mary 22 522.57x
Birmingham 21 5.00x
Kingswinford 21 34.31x
Rowley Regis 21 44.70x
Pershore Holy Cross 14 334.93x
Tipton 14 27.12x
Whistones 13 275.42x
Worcester St Peter 13 105.26x
Claines 10 55.87x
The Hill 10 238.66x
Chelmarsh 9 1097.56x
Dawdon 9 49.23x
Dudley 9 11.35x
Lanchester 9 329.67x
Walcot 9 21.02x
West Bromwich 9 9.33x
Atherton 8 37.09x
Hackney London 8 2.86x
Lye 8 73.73x
Salford 8 4.59x
Stourbridge 8 47.68x
Bethnal Green London 7 3.23x
Burntwood Edial 7 65.00x
Rock 7 268.20x
Stone 7 654.21x
Wednesfield 7 28.21x
Brandon Byshottles 6 32.24x
Grimley 6 487.80x
Islington London 6 1.24x
Shoreditch London 6 2.77x
Wingate 6 58.88x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 11.21x
Handsworth 5 12.03x
Hetton Le Hole 5 26.55x
Walsall Foreign 5 5.74x
Wolverhampton 5 3.86x
Bedwellty 4 6.27x
Belbroughton 4 118.34x
Edgbaston 4 10.24x
Harborne 4 7.40x
Hartlebury 4 103.09x
Lea Ashton Ingol 4 101.78x
Leigh 4 50.51x
Ribbesford 4 73.66x
Upperswinford 4 72.46x
Areley Kings 3 258.62x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 3 61.35x
Camberwell 3 0.94x
Evesham St Lawrence 3 86.46x
Hucknall Torkard 3 17.57x
Norton Canes 3 48.86x
Rugeley 3 24.79x
St Marylebone London 3 1.13x
Stranton 3 6.00x
Worcester St John 3 38.51x
Wyre Piddle 3 666.67x
Holt 2 487.80x
Kidderminster Foreign 2 21.69x
Lambeth 2 0.46x
Mile End Old Town 2 2.54x
St Clement Danes 2 24.75x
St Pancras London 2 0.50x
Alveley 1 58.48x
Chelsea London 1 0.66x
Edvin Loach 1 1250.00x
Eldersfield 1 98.04x
Elton 1 4.88x
Hampton In Arden 1 90.09x
Ilkeston 1 4.56x
Lamesley 1 12.50x
Mamble 1 256.41x
Merevale 1 312.50x
Middleton Scriven 1 625.00x
St Faith Winchester 1 20.96x
St George Hanover 1 1.53x
Walthamstow 1 2.82x
Woking 1 6.82x
Yardley 1 5.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 30
Mary 24
Sarah 21
Jane 13
Ann 12
Eliza 8
Ellen 8
Ada 7
Alice 7
Emily 7
Emma 7
Hannah 7
Louisa 5
Elizth. 4
Harriet 4
Martha 4
Susan 4
Anne 3
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Florence 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Phebe 3
Phoebe 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Fanny 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Lewisa 2
Lilly 2
Matilda 2
Miriam 2
Rebecca 2
Susanna 2
Celia 1
Charlotte 1
Emisia 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eunice 1
Flora 1
Florance 1
Lilian 1
W... 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 34
William 33
Thomas 26
George 23
Henry 19
James 13
Joseph 10
Charles 8
Benjamin 6
Edward 6
Albert 5
Robert 5
Alfred 4
David 4
Frederick 4
Job 4
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
Francis 3
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Richard 2
Abraham 1
Alfd 1
Allan 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Elias 1
Emanuel 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredk.E. 1
Geo. 1
Henery 1
Horatio 1
Isaac 1
Isaiah 1
Oliver 1
Ralph 1
Rueben 1
Shedrach 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Winwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Winwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 511 people were recorded with the Winwood surname. That placed it at #6,667 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Winwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 989 in 2016. That gives Winwood a modern rank of #5,852.

What does the Winwood surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a location with a wooded area.

What does the Winwood map show?

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