THE ORIGINS OF WINNETT FAMILIES OF THE WORLD

Irish families

The earliest appearance of a name similar to Winnett in Ireland occurs with Robert Whynyate or Whynyates.  He appears in a list of adventurers for land following the Cromwellian conquest in 1649 (Fifteenth Report of the Irish Record Commission 1825). He settled at Downpatrick, and in his will of 1676 he gave money to the poor of his native Chellaston in Derbyshire. 

In the Hearth Money Rolls of Antrim in 1669 there is a Hugh Wynyatt at Lower Cave, Belfast and a John Wyniett at nearby Carnmoney. John Wynott is listed as a church elder at Carnmoney in 1686 (Ulster Journal of Archaeology v.6 p. 277). They may have been members of the Scottish Winzet or Winyet family and descendants can be found into the 1700s in Carnmoney.

Further afield, Thomas Winnott is mentioned in a list of 1675 in Cullen, Tipperary (The Manor Courts of the Earl of Thomond 1666-1686, Analecta Hibernica v.38), and his will (as Thomas Winnett of Ballyferrin, co. Limerick, modern Ballyfirreen) is mentioned in 1678 (Cashel and Emly wills). It is likely that Thomas was the father of William, below.

Descendants of William Winnett of co. Kildare (born c. 1650)

William Winnett is known to have been in Dublin in 1680 when his second son John was born (Alumni Dublinensis) and was described as a gentleman. He first appears in documents in 1691 (spelled Wynnett) when he was at Kilrush, co. Kildare and he entered into a deed for lands at Coghlanstown, near Ballymore Eustace (see below).

John Winnett married Rebecca Nevill daughter of Francis Nevill who was prominent in Londonderry at the time of the siege of 1689. A son, Francis was christened at Blessington co. Wicklow in 1711. Another son was Clement Winnett an attorney who had land in Dungannon co. Tyrone and died in 1766 (a building called Winnett's Court still exists in the town). He and his brothers John, Charles and Henry enrolled in the Quaker school at Ballitore, co. Kildare in 1734. Henry Winnett later became a merchant in Dublin before settling in Baltinglass co. Wicklow some time in the 1760s. Henry is the ancestor of all known surviving branches of this family. Descendants live in England, Canada, Australia and the USA.

The earlier origins of William Winnett are not known, but he or his father must have come from either England or Scotland. Family tradition certainly says so. David Turvey quotes Una Boyle (a great-great-great granddaughter of Henry Winnett) in a letter of 1965: "My mother mentioned that when her father was alive he said that his forebears came over to Ireland from London in Cromwell's time". In Part 8 of his book, Turvey also has a copy of a letter written by a granddaughter of Henry Winnett (probably in about 1890) in which is written: [My father's ancestors] accompanied Oliver Cromwell from Scotland to conquer Ireland and they afterwards settled down in different portions thereof."

David Turvey's "Family No. 4" and "Family No. 5" both descend from this family.

Descendants of John Winnett of Killaloe co. Clare (born c. 1740)

The first mention of the Winnett name in Killaloe occurs in 1766 when John Winnett is listed in Marriage License Bonds as marrying Sarah Ellis. Their daughter Ann was christened in 1784, but they probably had a son Richard who was born in 1776. He married Elinor Worrall and gave rise to a prolific family. Of 13 children, 7 migrated to Canada and one, Joseph went to Australia. The town of Winnett, Montana is named after a member of this family.

The earlier origins of this family are unknown, but it is tempting to find a connection with the Kildare family especially as the name is so rare. The letter-writer of 1890 mentioned above thought there was a connection: "These Winnetts may be descendants of [Henry Winnett's] brothers but one thing I am certain of, there never has been a Winnett in Ireland outside of relations whether known to us or not". DNA testing in 2005 however suggests the two families have separate origins. Nonetheless, if the descent was through a female Winnett there could still be a common origin.

Turvey listed this family as "Family No. 1". A website regarding this family exists.