Recorded in many spellings including Winear, Winer, Winner, Wyner (English), Wien, Wiener, Wienner, and Wineer (Dutch & German), this surname is locational. It describes an inhabitant or more likely a former inhabitant of Wien, the capital city of Austria known in English by the more romantic sounding name of Vienna. Locational surnames by their very nature were generally 'from' names. That is to say that unless the name holders were actual descendants of the original lords of Wien, the surname was one bestowed upon people by their new neighbours and associates as easy identification. Not surpringly perhaps the name is widespread throughout Europe. It is uncertain as to when the first nameholders were recorded but the early German registers reaching as far back as the 14th century do include Hans Wienere of Riedlingen in 1348, whilst in England Hellen Winyer married William Greene or Greeme at the church of St Christopher le Stocks in the city of London, on June 7th 1560, and Annah Winner was christened at the church of St Benet Fink, also in the city of London, on December 11th 1650.

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