Winfrey

Winfrey is an English surname. It is relatively uncommon and is most frequently found in the United States and the United Kingdom. The exact etymology of the name is not clearly documented, but it is believed to originate from medieval English personal names or place-names, with historical spelling variants such as Wynfrey or Wynfreye appearing in records. Like many surnames of English origin, Winfrey has likely evolved through regional dialects and literary forms over centuries.

Notable people with the surname include Oprah Winfrey (born 1954), American media executive, television host, actress, and philanthropist. Her influence through The Oprah Winfrey Show and her broader media and philanthropic work led to the widespread recognition of the surname.

Beyond Oprah, the name has appeared across various professional fields in English-speaking regions, including business, academia, and the arts, though fewer individuals with the name have achieved the same level of public prominence. The surname remains relatively uncommon, typically indicating ancestral ties to England or to later descendants who emigrated to other English-speaking countries.