NameCensus.

UK surname

Westaway

A locational surname indicating someone from a westerly dwelling or settlement.

In the 1881 census there were 649 people recorded with the Westaway surname, ranking it #5,499 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 539, ranked #9,438, down from #5,499 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Daventry, South Hams and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Westaway is 830 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 16.9%.

1881 census count

649

Ranked #5,499

Modern count

539

2016, ranked #9,438

Peak year

1911

830 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Westaway had 649 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,499 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 539 in 2016, ranked #9,438.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 830 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Westaway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Westaway surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Westaway 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 422 #5,779
1861 historical 475 #5,480
1881 historical 649 #5,499
1891 historical 752 #5,296
1901 historical 792 #5,689
1911 historical 830 #5,320
1997 modern 650 #7,655
1998 modern 659 #7,830
1999 modern 648 #7,966
2000 modern 645 #7,982
2001 modern 627 #8,005
2002 modern 648 #7,971
2003 modern 629 #8,020
2004 modern 611 #8,234
2005 modern 598 #8,288
2006 modern 583 #8,464
2007 modern 575 #8,629
2008 modern 570 #8,734
2009 modern 581 #8,793
2010 modern 588 #8,923
2011 modern 588 #8,825
2012 modern 560 #9,050
2013 modern 571 #9,049
2014 modern 567 #9,161
2015 modern 553 #9,267
2016 modern 539 #9,438

Geography

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Where Westaways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes and Tawton, South. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Daventry, South Hams, Cornwall, Teignbridge and Torridge. 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 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Tawton, South Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Daventry 001 Daventry
2 South Hams 003 South Hams
3 Cornwall 035 Cornwall
4 Teignbridge 012 Teignbridge
5 Torridge 005 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Westaway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Westaway

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Westaway, 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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Westaway 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

Westaway is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Westaway falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Westaway is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Westaway

The surname Westaway is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "west" meaning west and "weg" meaning way or path, likely referring to someone who lived near a western road or pathway.

The name Westaway first appeared in records in Devonshire, particularly in areas around Exeter and the surrounding villages. Early spellings of the name included Westweye, Westwey, and Westwaye, reflecting the local dialect and pronunciation.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Westwaye, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Devonshire in 1327. Another early reference can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1412, which listed a Thomas Westwey.

The Westaway surname is not found in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, suggesting the name originated after the Norman Conquest. However, it is mentioned in various later medieval records and parish registers across the West Country of England.

Notable individuals with the surname Westaway include:

1. Sir John Westaway (1542-1616), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Barnstaple in 1597. 2. William Westaway (1701-1769), an English clergyman and author who wrote a treatise on the art of gardening. 3. Elizabeth Westaway (1800-1884), a British philanthropist and benefactor who founded several schools and orphanages in Devon. 4. Thomas Westaway (1856-1937), a renowned British architect known for designing several notable buildings in London and Bristol. 5. Robert Westaway (1904-1983), a British actor and playwright who appeared in several West End productions and films in the mid-20th century.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Westaway surname throughout history, originating from the West Country of England and potentially indicating their ancestors lived near a western pathway or road.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Westaway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Westaway 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 384 Westaways recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.65x.

County Total Index
Devon 384 28.65x
Cornwall 58 7.96x
Middlesex 58 0.90x
Gloucestershire 49 3.88x
Surrey 33 1.05x
Kent 16 0.73x
Somerset 16 1.54x
Lancashire 12 0.16x
Channel Islands 11 5.77x
Buckinghamshire 6 1.54x
Hampshire 6 0.45x
Worcestershire 4 0.48x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.98x
Dorset 1 0.24x
Glamorgan 1 0.09x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.07x
Royal Navy 1 1.30x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 31 Westaways recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.02x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 31 9.02x
Bradworthy 28 1435.90x
Tormoham 28 49.38x
Plymouth St Andrew 18 17.44x
South Tawton 18 652.17x
Budock 15 273.22x
Totnes 14 178.57x
Plumstead 13 17.75x
Woolfardisworthy 13 670.10x
Lanlivery 12 392.16x
Wolborough 11 64.94x
Bristol St James In 10 53.85x
Exeter St David 10 87.34x
Exeter St Sidwell 10 32.58x
Winkleigh 10 371.75x
Bedminster 9 9.24x
Belstone 9 2647.06x
Camberwell 9 2.19x
Newton Abbot St Mary 9 80.07x
Northam 9 92.12x
Okehampton 9 178.22x
Plymouth Charles The 9 15.24x
South Molton 9 122.28x
Stoke Damerel 9 9.60x
St Helier 8 12.88x
Tiverton 8 34.66x
Ashburton 7 109.20x
Bristol St John Baptist 7 598.29x
Croydon 7 4.02x
Bristol St George 6 10.27x
Kilkhampton 6 279.07x
Monkleigh 6 504.20x
Newnham 6 185.19x
Ruardean 6 210.53x
Spreyton 6 714.29x
Tavistock 6 39.29x
Walcot 6 10.87x
Abbots Kerswell 5 520.83x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 4.21x
Dunsford 5 292.40x
Feniton 5 641.03x
Hennock 5 294.12x
Highweek 5 104.60x
Kingsteignton 5 134.05x
Kingswood 5 243.90x
Lambeth 5 0.89x
Launcells 5 406.50x
Paddington London 5 2.11x
Pendleton In Salford 5 5.49x
Pillaton 5 675.68x
St Endellion 5 197.63x
West Teignmouth 5 48.78x
Wraysbury 5 344.83x
Bermondsey 4 2.09x
Berry Pomeroy 4 180.18x
Bideford 4 27.86x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.63x
Dartmouth St Petrox 4 207.25x
East Stonehouse 4 15.15x
Exeter Heavitree 4 40.04x
Hatherleigh 4 120.12x
Stonehouse East 4 58.82x
Worcester St Michael 4 412.37x
Battersea 3 1.27x
Broadwood Kelly 3 468.75x
Clapham 3 3.73x
Exeter St Mary Major 3 37.13x
Great Torrington 3 39.47x
Kensington London 3 0.84x
Lanteglos 3 89.02x
Marldon 3 267.86x
Merton 3 234.38x
Sampford Courtenay 3 150.00x
St Pancras London 3 0.58x
West Derby 3 1.34x
Westminster St James 3 4.53x
Zeal Monachorum 3 291.26x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 4.75x
Exeter St Olave 2 115.61x
Meeth 2 384.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 43
Elizabeth 30
Eliza 16
Sarah 15
Ann 12
Jane 12
Annie 11
Emma 11
Maria 11
Emily 9
Harriet 8
Alice 7
Ellen 7
Ada 6
Fanny 6
Caroline 5
Anne 4
Bessie 4
Margaret 4
Susan 4
Agnes 3
Edith 3
Eva 3
Grace 3
Hannah 3
Jessie 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Sophia 3
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Betsy 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Georgina 2
Henrietta 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Mabel 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Phillippa 2
Rhoda 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
Damaris 1
E. 1
E.J. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 55
John 53
James 20
Thomas 18
Charles 12
George 12
Richard 12
Samuel 12
Henry 11
Mark 10
Albert 5
Edwin 5
Ernest 5
Harry 5
Arthur 4
Benjamin 4
Frederick 4
Nathaniel 4
Wm. 4
Frank 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Elijah 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Jeremiah 2
Joseph 2
Laurence 2
Louis 2
Sidney 2
Walter 2
Alexander 1
Chas. 1
Dundas 1
Eli 1
Fredk 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Henery 1
Jas. 1
Leonard 1
Lizzie 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Mowbray 1
Nathl. 1
P.T. 1
Philip 1
Wm.S. 1

FAQ

Westaway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Westaway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 649 people were recorded with the Westaway surname. That placed it at #5,499 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Westaway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 539 in 2016. That gives Westaway a modern rank of #9,438.

What does the Westaway surname mean?

A locational surname indicating someone from a westerly dwelling or settlement.

What does the Westaway map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Westaway 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.