Winder Family History

English:: habitational name in northwestern England from any of several places called Winder in Lancashire, Cumbria, and Yorkshire, especially one in Cartmel (Lancashire), all named with Old Norse vindr ‘wind’ + erg ‘shieling hill pasture’. In Sussex and Kent, a topographic name for someone who lived ‘(at the) winding path or ascent’ or by a winding stream from Middle English wind + the agent suffix -er.

Compare Wind occupational name for a winder of wool from Middle English winder, an agent derivative of Middle English winde(n) ‘to wind’ (Old English windan ‘to go, to proceed’). The verb was also used in the Middle Ages to denote various weaving and plaiting processes.

In some cases, the name may have referred to a maker of baskets or hurdles. This highlights the evolution of the name based on geographical and occupational influences over time.