NameCensus.

UK surname

Wescott

A locational surname derived from several places named Wescott or Westcott, meaning "west cottage" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 263 people recorded with the Wescott surname, ranking it #10,692 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 405, ranked #11,774, down from #10,692 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Hull Holy Trinity and Feock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Chichester and Bristol.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wescott is 411 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.0%.

1881 census count

263

Ranked #10,692

Modern count

405

2016, ranked #11,774

Peak year

2014

411 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wescott had 263 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,692 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 405 in 2016, ranked #11,774.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 370 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Wescott surname distribution map

The map shows where the Wescott surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Wescott surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wescott over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 230 #9,368
1861 historical 252 #9,804
1881 historical 263 #10,692
1891 historical 258 #12,440
1901 historical 314 #11,285
1911 historical 370 #9,852
1997 modern 380 #11,418
1998 modern 383 #11,748
1999 modern 391 #11,640
2000 modern 372 #12,020
2001 modern 361 #12,102
2002 modern 367 #12,198
2003 modern 367 #11,988
2004 modern 375 #11,820
2005 modern 368 #11,926
2006 modern 366 #12,042
2007 modern 355 #12,458
2008 modern 355 #12,565
2009 modern 383 #12,125
2010 modern 393 #12,157
2011 modern 378 #12,363
2012 modern 404 #11,647
2013 modern 406 #11,790
2014 modern 411 #11,768
2015 modern 406 #11,781
2016 modern 405 #11,774

Geography

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Where Wescotts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Hull Holy Trinity, Feock, London parishes and Sculcoates. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, Chichester, Bristol and Aylesbury Vale. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Feock Cornwall
4 London parishes London 3
5 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 013 Taunton Deane
2 Chichester 002 Chichester
3 Bristol 047 Bristol, City of
4 Bristol 049 Bristol, City of
5 Aylesbury Vale 005 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wescott

These lists show first names that appear often with the Wescott surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wescott

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wescott, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Wescott surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Wescott household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Wescott is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wescott is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wescott falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wescott is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Wescott, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wescott

The surname Wescott is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "west" meaning west and "cot" meaning a small dwelling or cottage. It likely originated as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived in a small house or cottage situated to the west of a main village or town.

The earliest recorded instances of the Wescott surname date back to the late 12th century in various counties across England, such as Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire. The surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273 as "Westcote" and "Westcott."

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several references to places with similar names, such as "Westcota" in Gloucestershire and "Westcote" in Oxfordshire, which may have contributed to the development of the Wescott surname.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Wescott surname was Richard de Westcote, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1204. Another early bearer of the name was John de Westcote, who was documented in the Feet of Fines for Oxfordshire in 1292.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname began to appear in various spellings, including Westcott, Westcote, Wescott, and Wessecote, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

Notable individuals with the Wescott surname throughout history include:

1. Sir John Wescott (c. 1550-1624), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire. 2. Thomas Wescott (c. 1590-1660), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works. 3. Giles Wescott (1617-1688), an English settler in Massachusetts Bay Colony and one of the founders of the town of Warwick, Rhode Island. 4. Mary Wescott (1765-1834), an English artist known for her portrait miniatures and landscapes. 5. Brooke Wescott (1839-1918), an American Civil War veteran and politician who served as the Governor of Florida from 1893 to 1897.

The surname Wescott has also been associated with various place names across England, such as Wescott Barton in Oxfordshire, Wescott Hill in Gloucestershire, and Wescott Farm in Buckinghamshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wescott families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wescott surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 60 Wescotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.24x.

County Total Index
Devon 60 11.24x
Somerset 35 8.48x
Middlesex 30 1.17x
Cornwall 25 8.61x
Hampshire 23 4.37x
Dorset 18 10.69x
Surrey 17 1.36x
Berkshire 12 6.23x
Gloucestershire 12 2.39x
Essex 10 1.97x
Yorkshire 8 0.31x
Lancashire 4 0.13x
Cheshire 2 0.35x
Sussex 2 0.46x
Bedfordshire 1 0.75x
Isle of Man 1 2.10x
Kent 1 0.11x
Lincolnshire 1 0.24x
Wiltshire 1 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Christchurch in Hampshire leads with 13 Wescotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 114.04x.

Place Total Index
Christchurch 13 114.04x
Yeovil 9 107.27x
Bermondsey 8 10.48x
Braunton 8 441.99x
Hackney London 8 5.56x
Holy Trinity 8 13.08x
Islington London 8 3.22x
Madron Penzance 8 75.76x
St Austell 8 80.56x
Chingford 7 573.77x
Exeter St Mary Major 7 217.39x
Feock 7 384.62x
Halberton 7 564.52x
Shaftesbury St Peter 7 886.08x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 13.56x
Taunton St James 7 116.28x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 35.76x
Tedburn St Mary 6 1071.43x
Wokingham 6 136.67x
Bishops Nympton 5 490.20x
East Stonehouse 5 47.53x
Reading St Mary 5 32.43x
Ringwood 5 148.81x
Sherborne 5 100.81x
St Luke London 5 12.15x
Wellington 5 89.29x
Dorchester All Sts 4 500.00x
Membury 4 701.75x
Rose Ash 4 888.89x
Bedminster 3 7.73x
Shoreditch London 3 2.70x
South Mimms 3 85.23x
West Derby 3 3.37x
Yatton 3 186.34x
Allington 2 133.33x
Bath St James 2 46.40x
Bradninch 2 132.45x
Chester St Mary On Hill 2 41.15x
Farnborough 2 36.23x
Ilfracombe 2 36.36x
Lydney 2 76.92x
Milverton 2 131.58x
St Marylebone London 2 1.46x
Tiverton 2 21.74x
Tormoham 2 8.85x
Aldershot 1 5.68x
Barking 1 6.75x
Bedford St Paul 1 10.98x
Bodmin 1 20.83x
Brighton 1 1.15x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 1 21.83x
Bristol St Paul In 1 7.46x
Brixham 1 16.16x
Cheltenham 1 2.58x
Exeter Heavitree 1 25.13x
Exeter St Mary Arches 1 200.00x
Gorran 1 121.95x
Great Bolton 1 2.48x
Holdenhurst 1 7.25x
Hove 1 5.27x
Lambeth 1 0.45x
Lustleigh 1 312.50x
Martock 1 37.31x
Merton 1 196.08x
Minster In Sheppey 1 6.90x
Onchan 1 7.29x
Ottery St Mary 1 28.57x
Reading St Lawrence 1 24.27x
Spittlegate 1 17.64x
St George Hanover 1 2.99x
Stogumber 1 91.74x
Streatham 1 5.25x
Sway 1 142.86x
Walthamstow 1 5.49x
Wells St Cuthbert 1 35.46x
West Ham 1 0.89x
Westbury On Trym 1 5.87x
Wilton 1 62.50x
Wiveliscombe 1 43.48x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wescott surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 18
Eliza 6
Elizabeth 6
Emma 6
Caroline 5
Ellen 5
Emily 5
Jane 5
Sarah 5
Hannah 4
Alice 3
Ann 3
Bessie 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Harriett 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Eva 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Rhoda 2
Susan 2
Anne 1
Arabella 1
Baby 1
Beatrice 1
Clarenda 1
Daisy 1
E. 1
Eda 1
Flore 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Minnie 1
Phillis 1
Phoebe 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wescott surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 22
William 13
James 10
Richard 10
Charles 8
George 8
Edwin 5
Joseph 5
Peter 4
Robert 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Ebenezer 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Albert 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
Abel 1
Bernard 1
Bertie 1
Chas.B. 1
Edwd.Chas. 1
Elton 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk.Jno. 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Mark 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Wescott surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wescott surname in 1881?

In 1881, 263 people were recorded with the Wescott surname. That placed it at #10,692 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wescott surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 405 in 2016. That gives Wescott a modern rank of #11,774.

What does the Wescott surname mean?

A locational surname derived from several places named Wescott or Westcott, meaning "west cottage" in Old English.

What does the Wescott map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wescott bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.