A transposed variant Anglicized form of either the German-Slavonic-Hebrew 'Vinik' meaning a distiller of brandy or from the Olde German Wintsip or Wintzing from Wintz meaning 'friend' and 'ip' or 'ig' meaning 'little' - a medieval affectionate nickname surname. It is also possible that the name derives from 'Winnicki' a name found originally in the former state of Galicia, within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and meaning 'The Wine Grower'. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Wintzing of Saxony. which was dated C. 1585 The Principality of Saxony. during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1 of England, Good Queen Bess 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.