Explore the Family Name Winker
The meaning of Winker
German: nickname for an agitated or nervous person, or one with a nervous tic, from an agent derivative of Middle High German winken originally meaning ‘to wave or shake’ and later ‘to wink or blink’. Some characteristic forenames: German Ewald, Kurt, Lorenz.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Winker in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Winker experienced a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 31,774 in terms of frequency, but by 2010, it dropped to a rank of 34,223, which signifies a -7.71 change. The number of individuals with this surname also declined from 687 in 2000 to 663 in 2010, marking a -3.49 change. The proportion of the population carrying this surname per 100,000 people reduced by 12 percent over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #31,774 | #34,223 | -7.71% |
| Count | 687 | 663 | -3.49% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.25 | 0.22 | -12% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Winker
The ethnicity breakdown associated with the surname Winker also saw some changes between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, approximately 97.09% of those with the Winker surname identified as White, dropping slightly to 95.32% by 2010. During the same period, those identifying as Hispanic rose from 0.87% to 1.66%, showing an increase of 90.80%. There was also a noticeable appearance of those who identify with two or more races (1.21%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.90%) in 2010, where there had been none reported in 2000. However, the percentage of people with the Winker surname identifying as Black decreased from 0.73% to zero during this time. The American Indian and Alaskan Native category remained at zero throughout the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.09% | 95.32% | -1.82% |
| Hispanic | 0.87% | 1.66% | 90.8% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.21% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.9% | 0% |
| Black | 0.73% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |