NameCensus.

UK surname

Westcott

From a place name meaning "west cottage" in Old English, likely referring to a person who lived there.

In the 1881 census there were 1,964 people recorded with the Westcott surname, ranking it #2,234 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,214, ranked #2,927, down from #2,234 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Molton, Highbray, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Exeter St David (including Castle Yard). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Somerset, Taunton Deane and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Westcott is 2,704 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.7%.

1881 census count

1,964

Ranked #2,234

Modern count

2,214

2016, ranked #2,927

Peak year

1911

2,704 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Westcott had 1,964 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,234 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,214 in 2016, ranked #2,927.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,704 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Westcott surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Westcott surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Westcott 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 1,297 #2,208
1861 historical 1,283 #2,222
1881 historical 1,964 #2,234
1891 historical 2,200 #2,125
1901 historical 2,391 #2,277
1911 historical 2,704 #1,914
1997 modern 2,395 #2,613
1998 modern 2,489 #2,624
1999 modern 2,520 #2,615
2000 modern 2,510 #2,608
2001 modern 2,423 #2,633
2002 modern 2,466 #2,651
2003 modern 2,393 #2,671
2004 modern 2,366 #2,695
2005 modern 2,300 #2,721
2006 modern 2,276 #2,743
2007 modern 2,308 #2,743
2008 modern 2,314 #2,753
2009 modern 2,354 #2,777
2010 modern 2,400 #2,786
2011 modern 2,343 #2,815
2012 modern 2,245 #2,870
2013 modern 2,293 #2,864
2014 modern 2,287 #2,884
2015 modern 2,260 #2,886
2016 modern 2,214 #2,927

Geography

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Where Westcotts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Molton, Highbray, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Somerset, Taunton Deane and North Devon. 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 North Molton, Highbray Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Somerset 002 West Somerset
2 West Somerset 005 West Somerset
3 West Somerset 001 West Somerset
4 Taunton Deane 012 Taunton Deane
5 North Devon 013 North Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Westcott

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Westcott

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Westcott, 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 Westcott surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Westcott 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, Westcott 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

Westcott 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

Westcott 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 Westcott 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 Westcott, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Westcott

The surname Westcott has its origins in England, with its earliest known spellings emerging during the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "west" meaning "west" and "cot" meaning "cottage" or "dwelling." It likely originated as a locational surname, given to individuals residing in a westward-facing dwelling or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Westkote." This document, a census-like record commissioned by King Edward I, provides valuable insights into the prevalence and distribution of surnames during that era.

The Westcott surname has also been documented in various historical records, including the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1524, which mentions a John Westcott. This surname may have been influenced by place names such as Westcott in Buckinghamshire or Westcott in Dorset, both of which existed during the medieval period.

A notable figure bearing the Westcott surname was Thomas Westcott (c. 1567-1637), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Bartholomew's Church in London. Another prominent individual was Brooke Westcott (1825-1901), an English bishop and biblical scholar who co-authored the Westcott and Hort text of the New Testament.

Other individuals of historical significance with the Westcott surname include Edward Noyes Westcott (1846-1898), an American historian and author, and William Wynn Westcott (1848-1925), a British occultist and co-founder of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

Lastly, Fanny Westcott (1875-1957) was a notable American stage actress who performed on Broadway and in various theatrical productions throughout the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Westcott families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Westcott 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 692 Westcotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.21x.

County Total Index
Devon 692 17.21x
Somerset 362 11.64x
Middlesex 301 1.56x
Surrey 119 1.26x
Gloucestershire 57 1.50x
Hampshire 57 1.44x
Lancashire 53 0.23x
Dorset 50 3.94x
Cornwall 44 2.01x
Kent 42 0.64x
Yorkshire 28 0.15x
Cheshire 21 0.49x
Durham 15 0.26x
Essex 15 0.39x
Royal Navy 12 5.21x
Buckinghamshire 10 0.86x
Glamorgan 10 0.30x
Berkshire 8 0.55x
Cambridgeshire 8 0.65x
Suffolk 8 0.34x
Lincolnshire 7 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.23x
Shropshire 6 0.36x
Wiltshire 6 0.35x
Cumberland 5 0.30x
Sussex 5 0.15x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.22x
Norfolk 4 0.13x
Northamptonshire 4 0.22x
Staffordshire 4 0.06x
Monmouthshire 3 0.21x
Warwickshire 3 0.06x
Lanarkshire 2 0.03x
Brecknockshire 1 0.26x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.13x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.12x
Channel Islands 1 0.17x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.23x
Midlothian 1 0.04x
Stirlingshire 1 0.14x
Worcestershire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Molton in Devon leads with 65 Westcotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 830.14x.

Place Total Index
North Molton 65 830.14x
Wellington 58 137.60x
Plymouth Charles The 53 29.92x
Bedminster 44 15.06x
Islington London 41 2.19x
Lambeth 38 2.26x
Dawlish 35 116.71x
Exeter St Thomas The 35 85.41x
St Pancras London 34 2.19x
Shoreditch London 29 3.46x
Battersea 25 3.52x
Taunton St Mary 25 43.81x
Exeter St Mary Major 24 99.01x
Exeter St Sidwell 24 26.06x
Hawkridge 21 3500.00x
Stoke Damerel 21 7.46x
Bishops Lydeard 20 252.21x
Camberwell 20 1.62x
Ide 18 410.96x
Tormoham 18 10.58x
Southampton St Mary 17 6.83x
St Marylebone London 17 1.65x
Paddington London 16 2.25x
Bethnal Green London 15 1.79x
Kensington London 15 1.40x
Okehampton 15 98.94x
Broad Clist 14 100.94x
Thorverton 14 229.13x
Tiverton 14 20.21x
Wiveliscombe 14 80.78x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 13 3.64x
Bromley London 13 3.06x
Crediton 13 34.12x
Exeter Heavitree 13 43.36x
Littleham 13 44.23x
Lyncombe Widcombe 13 15.97x
Plymouth St Andrew 13 4.20x
Portsea 13 1.68x
West Derby 13 1.94x
Royal Navy 12 6.10x
Taunton St James 12 26.47x
Topsham 12 63.22x
Beaford 11 282.05x
Hackney London 11 1.02x
Kenwyn 11 19.24x
Woolwich 11 4.52x
Bristol St James St Paul 10 7.92x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 2.75x
Exeter St Edmund 10 115.34x
Liverpool 10 0.72x
Newton Abbot St Mary 10 29.65x
Symondsbury 10 123.92x
Winkleigh 10 123.92x
Blagdon 9 137.40x
Bramley In Bramley 9 12.28x
Huntspill 9 70.70x
Iddesleigh 9 328.47x
Kenton 9 70.98x
Marytavy 9 152.03x
St George Hanover 9 3.57x
Westbury On Trym 9 7.01x
Acton 8 7.07x
Berry Pomeroy 8 120.12x
Exeter St David 8 23.29x
Hammersmith London 8 1.68x
Holy Trinity 8 1.74x
Ipswich St Helen 8 28.68x
Porlock 8 158.10x
Romansleigh 8 808.08x
St Marythe Less 8 107.53x
West Wycombe 8 50.51x
Aisholt 7 875.00x
Bishopwearmouth 7 1.42x
Brixham 7 15.03x
Cirencester 7 13.65x
Clapham 7 2.90x
Lewisham 7 1.99x
Melcombe Regis 7 13.33x
Raby Keverstone 7 378.38x
Wallasey 7 48.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 132
Elizabeth 80
Jane 49
Sarah 46
Eliza 42
Emily 39
Emma 35
Ann 32
Alice 31
Ellen 26
Annie 23
Louisa 18
Bessie 16
Florence 16
Charlotte 15
Lucy 15
Susan 15
Edith 14
Fanny 12
Hannah 12
Harriet 12
Kate 11
Caroline 10
Clara 10
Jessie 10
Martha 9
Anne 8
Ada 7
Amelia 7
Margaret 7
Maria 7
Maud 7
Sophia 7
Catherine 6
Eleanor 6
Elizth. 6
Harriett 6
Matilda 6
Minnie 6
Amy 5
Ethel 5
Frances 5
Grace 5
Isabella 5
Julia 5
Rebecca 5
Anna 4
Blanche 4
Gertrude 4
Henrietta 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 130
John 106
George 93
Henry 72
James 58
Thomas 54
Charles 40
Samuel 27
Walter 27
Frederick 23
Richard 20
Arthur 18
Robert 17
Alfred 16
Harry 13
Joseph 13
Albert 11
Frank 11
Francis 10
Fred 9
Wm. 8
Tom 7
Edward 6
Ernest 6
Geo. 6
Edmund 5
Fredk. 5
Simon 4
Willm. 4
Benjamin 3
Edgar 3
Edwin 3
Herbert 3
Levi 3
Mark 3
Oliver 3
Percy 3
Saml. 3
Sydney 3
Thos. 3
Alexander 2
Daniel 2
Frederic 2
Fredrick 2
Henery 2
Issac 2
Jeremiah 2
Joel 2
Nicholas 2
Sinclair 2

FAQ

Westcott surname: questions and answers

How common was the Westcott surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,964 people were recorded with the Westcott surname. That placed it at #2,234 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Westcott surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,214 in 2016. That gives Westcott a modern rank of #2,927.

What does the Westcott surname mean?

From a place name meaning "west cottage" in Old English, likely referring to a person who lived there.

What does the Westcott map show?

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