Surname Wyntoun - Meaning and Origin

Wyntoun: What does the surname Wyntoun mean?

The surname Wyntoun is of Scottish origin, though its exact meaning is not directly known. Since many surnames stem from geographical locations, occupations, or descriptive nicknames, it's presumed Wyntoun might also have similar roots. The "-toun" or "-ton" is a common ending in Scottish and English surnames, usually referring to a town or settlement. It derives from the Old English "tun," which can mean an enclosure, estate, or homestead. As for "Wynt," it might possibly be related to the Old English "wint," for winter, or a variant of Wind-, which was sometimes used in names to signify someone who lived near a windy area. So theoretically, one could presume Wyntoun to mean "winter town" or "windy settlement" but this is really just a conjecture as no definitive meaning for the name Wyntoun has been established.

Wyntoun: Where does the name Wyntoun come from?

The surname Wyntoun is not one of the top 500 surnames in the world today, however, it is still a relatively common surname in parts of Scotland and North England. Records from Scotland indicate that the Wyntoun family were originally found in the far south of Ayrshire in 1291, however, the family was known in further south regions such as Lanarkshire as far back as the 13th century.

Today the majority of the Wyntouns can be found in Scotland, particularly in the Midlothian, Fife and Glasgow areas. There are also some Wyntouns located in North East England such as Berwick-upon-Tweed and Hexham.

In modern Scotland, the surname is often spelled as Wynnton or Winton. Wyntoun family members, spread across these regions, tend to have Scottish and Irish origins. Though the family's name may have evolved over the centuries, its origin remains Scottish and Irish.

The Wyntoun surname is also used as a given name, particularly in Scotland, such as for sportsman Wynton Rufer, who was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but was of both Scottish and German ancestry.

Variations of the surname Wyntoun

The Wyntoun family name is derived from an Old English address, deriving from the pre 7th century ‘wineduna’ meaning ‘wine hill’. This combined with the continuous migration of the British people, gives the surname a variety of spellings and related surnames. Modern spellings include Winton, Wynter, Wynterton, Wintern, Wintern, Wenting, Wentzig and Wentzing.

Variant spellings of the original family name were adopted based on local dialects and the preferences of the bearer. For instance, people living in the east of Scotland likely had the surname spelled Winton while those in the west may have used one of the other variation such as Wenting or Wentzer.

Throughout history, spelling of names often changed, often taking on a family's dialect or simply random changes. This can cause great problems in genealogical research, because what appears to be a variant surname can actually be a spelling variation of the same name.

Other surnames may be derived from the place name 'Wyntoun.' Names such as Wentz, Wentzel, Wentworth, and Wynter may be variations of 'Wyntoun.' These surnames also have become so common and widespread with time, and thus their ancestral linkage can be difficult to recognize.

Finally, in some cases, immigrants and settlers may have taken the name of a fellow traveler or village in their new homeland as their surname, even if it is a variation of the original surname. It is possible that the surname 'Winters,' derived from the German word ‘Winter’, can be a variation of the surname 'Wyntoun.'

Overall, the Wyntoun surname is a popular one, with many modern day spellings and surnames derived from it. Although difficult to trace at times, its origin can still be identified with the help of proper genealogical research.

Famous people with the name Wyntoun

• Matthew Wyntoun: a 15th-century Scottish priest and makar
• David Wyntoun: a Scottish herald and author
• Alan Wyntoun: a 14th-century Scottish makar
• Kenneth Wyntoun: a 12th-century admiral
• George Wyntoun: a Scottish clergyman
• Alexander Wyntoun: a 15th-century Scottish historian and makar
• Evan Wyntoun: a 14th-century Scottish makar
• David Wyntoun of Carserocdet: a Scottish knight
• George Wyntoun of Ros— a 17th-century Scottish lawyer
• Rob Wyntoun: a Scottish actor and director

Other surnames

Wynton