English
The surname Wintour is of English, German,Danish and Norwegian origin. The surname signifies 'Winter's son'. It was a nickname or byname for someone of a frosty or gloomy temperment; as cold and cheerless as Winter. This season-name has been used in personal nomenclature from a very early period. It is variously derived from the Old English, 'winter', Old High German, 'wintar' and Old Norman 'vetr'. It is, one might say, a rather melancholy name. It may also derive from the vintner or wine merchant; or refers to the progeny of Winter, a name bestowed on one born in the Winter; or designates the dweller at the white water; or the man descendant of Winidhari, 'wind,army'. Medieval houses often had their walls painted with scenes from biblical history and romances, or with allegorical subjects such as the Wheel of Fortune or the representation of Winter 'with a sad and miserable face'; which Henry III had painted over the fireplace in one of his rooms. The name dates as far back as the early eleventh century were a Roger Winter is recorded in historical archives. This name was brought to America predominately by English immigrants. One of the first fore fathers to bring this name to America is that of a Thomas Winters, a husbandman, who emigrated to America aboard the William; he settled in Carolina. This name is the two-hundredth and sixty-ninth most common surname in America.