UK surname
A habitational surname referring to someone who lived to the west of a settlement or landmark.
In the 1881 census there were 37 people recorded with the Wester surname, ranking it #28,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 78, ranked #33,171, down from #28,418 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wester is 317 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 110.8%.
1881 census count
37
Ranked #28,418
Modern count
78
2016, ranked #33,171
Peak year
1861
317 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wester surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wester surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 74 | #20,443 |
| 1861 | historical | 317 | #8,031 |
| 1881 | historical | 37 | #28,418 |
| 1891 | historical | 222 | #13,854 |
| 1901 | historical | 28 | #30,951 |
| 1911 | historical | 66 | #26,249 |
| 1997 | modern | 74 | #30,218 |
| 1998 | modern | 60 | #31,931 |
| 1999 | modern | 64 | #31,692 |
| 2000 | modern | 63 | #31,829 |
| 2001 | modern | 54 | #32,583 |
| 2002 | modern | 57 | #32,661 |
| 2003 | modern | 62 | #32,258 |
| 2004 | modern | 57 | #32,968 |
| 2005 | modern | 58 | #33,094 |
| 2006 | modern | 62 | #33,043 |
| 2007 | modern | 65 | #33,045 |
| 2008 | modern | 63 | #33,498 |
| 2009 | modern | 65 | #33,611 |
| 2010 | modern | 73 | #33,249 |
| 2011 | modern | 78 | #32,819 |
| 2012 | modern | 71 | #33,573 |
| 2013 | modern | 70 | #33,753 |
| 2014 | modern | 71 | #33,717 |
| 2015 | modern | 75 | #33,425 |
| 2016 | modern | 78 | #33,171 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wester surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wester, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Wester surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wester household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Wester is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wester is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wester, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Wester is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "west", meaning "westerly" or "from the west". It is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, possibly as a locational name for someone who lived to the west of a particular town or village.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wester can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of landowners in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. In the Domesday Book, there are several entries for individuals with the surname Wester or similar spellings such as Westur or Westere.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname Wester began to appear more frequently in various historical records, including tax rolls, court documents, and parish registers. Some notable individuals with the surname Wester from this period include John Wester, a landowner in Suffolk mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, and William Wester, a merchant from London recorded in the city's civic records in 1381.
In the 16th century, the surname Wester was associated with several notable figures, such as Thomas Wester (c. 1500-1568), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Dean of Windsor from 1558 until his death. Another prominent individual was Richard Wester (1564-1613), a playwright and poet who was a contemporary of William Shakespeare.
As the surname spread across different regions of England, it evolved into various spelling variations, including Westere, Westure, and Westor. Some of these variations were influenced by the names of specific places or towns, such as Westerham in Kent or Weston in Somerset.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, several notable individuals bore the Wester surname, including John Wester (1629-1692), a prominent merchant and philanthropist from Bristol, and Edward Wester (1725-1799), a British army officer who served in the American Revolutionary War.
Throughout its history, the surname Wester has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, soldiers, and merchants. While not as widely prevalent as some other English surnames, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of family names that reflect the diverse cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped the English language over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wester surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Derbyshire leads with 6 Westers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.62x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire | 6 | 10.62x |
| Northumberland | 6 | 11.18x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.70x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.83x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 3.30x |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 10.71x |
| Devon | 2 | 2.66x |
| Durham | 2 | 1.86x |
| Surrey | 2 | 1.14x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 2.99x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 6.85x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.40x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.35x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 2.50x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.73x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 2.07x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.28x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Benwell in Northumberland leads with 6 Westers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1016.95x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Benwell | 6 | 1016.95x |
| Ilkeston | 4 | 253.16x |
| Coventry St Michael | 3 | 102.74x |
| Ealing | 3 | 93.17x |
| Toxteth Park | 3 | 20.69x |
| Bedford St Peter | 2 | 408.16x |
| Exeter St Sidwell | 2 | 116.28x |
| Barking | 1 | 48.08x |
| Battersea | 1 | 7.53x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 1 | 10.86x |
| Edinburgh New | 1 | 263.16x |
| Fenny Bentley | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Foxton | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Great Grimsby | 1 | 27.32x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 1 | 21.51x |
| Leeds | 1 | 4.95x |
| Newington | 1 | 7.50x |
| Peterhead | 1 | 56.50x |
| Pistill | 1 | 909.09x |
| Portsea | 1 | 6.90x |
| South Normanton | 1 | 250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wester surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wester surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Wester households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Carter | 2 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Hosiery Seamer | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Lab | 1 |
| Lance Corporal H.M.11th Regiment | 1 |
| Machinest (Boot) | 1 |
| Mate | 1 |
| Non Comd Officer In 1/10th Regt | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Sadler | 1 |
| Servant (Dom) | 1 |
| Ship Carpenter | 1 |
| Ship Carpenter Wife | 1 |
| Stone Dresser | 1 |
| Waterman | 1 |
| Waterman Wife | 1 |
| Watermans Son | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 37 people were recorded with the Wester surname. That placed it at #28,418 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 78 in 2016. That gives Wester a modern rank of #33,171.
A habitational surname referring to someone who lived to the west of a settlement or landmark.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wester bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.