The English surname Winder is an occupational name for a weaver or textile worker, from the  Middle English term wyndhows meaning “winding house.” Early recordings of the name include Elin Windresse and Richard Barnes who were married at Kirkham, Lancashire on January 23rd 1561, and the christening of Christofer Windross at St. Peter's Leeds, Yorkshire, on January 10th 1615. The first recorded spelling of the family name may be that of William de Wyndhows. This was dated 1379, in the Poll Tax register of Yorkshire.