Winson

Recorded in the spellings of Winson and Winsom, this is an English surname of post medieval origins. It is a patronymic form of the pre 7th century Olde English and Welsh baptismal name "gwyn" meaning fair or white. The first all such recordings is probably that of Thomas filius Win, in the Hundred Rolls of the county of Salop, the later Shropshire, in the year 1255. However this was not a hereditary surname, although it does have exactly the same meaning as "Winson" - being the son of Win. Early examples of the singular surname recording include Philip Wyn, in the rolls of same county of Salop, but in 1327, could reasonably claim to be the first of the hereditary family of Win, although not of Winson or Winsom. As to when these patronymics developed we are not certain, but there is no doubt that it was not later than the 16th century. As early as August 8th 1547, in one of the very first of all known church register recordings, John Wynson was christened at St Margarets church, Westminster. Later recordings include Myles Winson at St Giles church, Cripplegate, London, on April 24th 1580, and Thomas Winsom, in the dialectal variant, christened at St Dunstans in the East, Stepney, on July 12th 1625.