NameCensus.

UK surname

Westerman

A surname referring to someone who lived west of a prominent local landmark or settlement.

In the 1881 census there were 978 people recorded with the Westerman surname, ranking it #3,977 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,468, ranked #4,194, down from #3,977 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Batley, Sheffield and Dewsbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, Wakefield and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Westerman is 1,537 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.1%.

1881 census count

978

Ranked #3,977

Modern count

1,468

2016, ranked #4,194

Peak year

2010

1,537 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Westerman had 978 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,977 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,468 in 2016, ranked #4,194.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,272 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Westerman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Westerman surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Westerman 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 583 #4,380
1861 historical 701 #3,863
1881 historical 978 #3,977
1891 historical 1,121 #3,790
1901 historical 1,180 #4,149
1911 historical 1,272 #3,732
1997 modern 1,405 #4,129
1998 modern 1,460 #4,144
1999 modern 1,502 #4,081
2000 modern 1,490 #4,087
2001 modern 1,492 #3,999
2002 modern 1,508 #4,055
2003 modern 1,461 #4,086
2004 modern 1,408 #4,198
2005 modern 1,413 #4,162
2006 modern 1,421 #4,143
2007 modern 1,430 #4,162
2008 modern 1,438 #4,168
2009 modern 1,490 #4,139
2010 modern 1,537 #4,115
2011 modern 1,527 #4,090
2012 modern 1,507 #4,066
2013 modern 1,519 #4,117
2014 modern 1,514 #4,148
2015 modern 1,481 #4,182
2016 modern 1,468 #4,194

Geography

Back to top

Where Westermans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Batley, Sheffield, Dewsbury, Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, Wakefield and Barnsley. 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 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Dewsbury Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 001 North East Lincolnshire
2 North East Lincolnshire 003 North East Lincolnshire
3 Wakefield 001 Wakefield
4 Barnsley 020 Barnsley
5 Barnsley 022 Barnsley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Westerman

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Westerman

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Westerman is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Westerman is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Westerman falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Westerman 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 Westerman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Westerman

The surname Westerman originated in England, and its roots can be traced back to the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "west" and "ern," meaning "a person from the western arn or dwelling." The name was likely given to someone who lived in a western part of a town or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Westerman can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, dating back to 1296, where it is listed as "Adam Westerman." This suggests that the name was already well-established in the southern counties of England by the late 13th century.

The Westerman name is also mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, indicating its presence in the northern regions of England during the 14th century. The spelling variations at the time included Westerman, Westerman, and Westremane.

In the 15th century, the name appears in the records of the Guild of St. George in Norwich, where a John Westerman is listed as a member in 1452. This provides evidence of the name's spread across different parts of England during the medieval period.

Noteworthy historical figures bearing the surname Westerman include Sir John Westerman (1545-1612), an English diplomat and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Rye in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Another prominent individual was Thomas Westerman (1673-1744), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works.

During the 18th century, the Westerman name gained recognition through the achievements of Benjamin Westerman (1720-1785), a successful merchant and banker in London. His son, William Westerman (1758-1828), followed in his footsteps and became a prominent figure in the City of London's financial circles.

In the 19th century, Charles Westerman (1834-1903) made a significant contribution to the field of horticulture as the founder of the Westerman Nursery in Berkshire, which specialized in growing ornamental trees and shrubs.

Other notable individuals with the Westerman surname include Sir Richard Westerman (1890-1967), a British military officer who served in both World Wars and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and Dolf Westerman (1919-1999), a Dutch composer and conductor known for his work in film and television scores.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Westerman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Westerman 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. Yorkshire leads with 733 Westermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.73x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 733 7.73x
Lancashire 57 0.50x
Lincolnshire 32 2.09x
Leicestershire 24 2.26x
Hertfordshire 19 2.88x
Cheshire 16 0.76x
Middlesex 14 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 12 0.93x
Durham 11 0.39x
Hampshire 11 0.56x
Derbyshire 10 0.67x
Kent 10 0.31x
Gloucestershire 8 0.43x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.82x
Surrey 5 0.11x
Devon 3 0.15x
Cumberland 2 0.24x
Essex 2 0.11x
Flintshire 2 0.78x
Isle of Man 2 1.13x
Angus 1 0.11x
Channel Islands 1 0.35x
Royal Navy 1 0.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 70 Westermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.07x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 70 13.07x
Ecclesfield 56 80.54x
Morley 53 107.51x
Hunslet 38 25.70x
Holbeck 34 54.12x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 30 88.57x
Wortley In Bramley 26 34.62x
Huddersfield 25 18.10x
Bramley In Bramley 21 57.85x
Headingley Cum Burley 20 32.77x
Templenewsam 20 291.12x
Ashwell 19 366.80x
West Ardsley 18 157.76x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 17 38.59x
Hulme 15 6.33x
Normanton 15 52.63x
Cheadle 14 34.70x
Ackworth 12 164.61x
Castleford 12 34.75x
Dewsbury 12 12.34x
Horsforth 12 57.72x
Thorp Arch 12 930.23x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 11 31.94x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 11 33.92x
Garforth 11 151.52x
Horton In Bradford 11 7.43x
Gildersome 10 87.72x
Leicester St Margaret 10 3.86x
Chapel Allerton 9 63.42x
Hugglescote 9 57.66x
Newton 9 10.28x
Cottingham 8 39.14x
Rothwell 8 41.78x
Rothwell 8 941.18x
Southampton St Mary 8 6.49x
Swillington 8 296.30x
York St Mary 8 20.37x
Kimberworth 7 13.30x
New Sleaford 7 71.43x
Newbold Dunston 7 49.16x
Nottingham St Mary 7 2.10x
Bolton On Dearne 6 182.93x
Bradford 6 2.61x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 9.59x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.66x
Deptford St Paul 6 2.38x
East Hardwick 6 800.00x
Habergham Eaves 6 5.78x
Pudsey 6 11.84x
Sculcoates 6 3.99x
Stockton On Tees 6 4.37x
Swinhope 6 1304.35x
Beverley St Martin 5 31.59x
Beverley St Mary 5 36.10x
Everton 5 1.38x
Flockton 5 129.20x
Knottingley 5 29.99x
Leicester St Mary 5 5.83x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 5 43.25x
Manchester 5 0.98x
Parlington 5 704.23x
Upton 5 306.75x
Wakefield 5 6.87x
Wisbech St Peter 5 16.45x
Crigglestone 4 43.81x
East Ardsley 4 48.72x
Kirk Smeaton 4 322.58x
Pannal 4 43.96x
Parr 4 9.84x
Reddish 4 25.58x
Rotherhithe 4 3.38x
Whitwood 4 29.70x
Batley 3 3.33x
Binbrooke 3 78.74x
East Rainton 3 54.45x
North Meols 3 2.70x
Pontefract 3 14.68x
Portsea 3 0.78x
Soothill 3 8.76x
Stoke Damerel 3 2.15x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 46
John 45
George 36
Joseph 26
Thomas 26
James 24
Henry 23
Arthur 19
Charles 18
Walter 11
Alfred 10
Albert 9
Samuel 9
Jonathan 8
Wm. 8
Edward 7
Harry 7
Fred 6
Geo. 6
Frederick 5
Richard 5
Robert 5
Benjamin 4
Ernest 4
Herbert 4
Tom 4
Willie 4
Daniel 3
David 3
Ellis 3
Frank 3
Edwin 2
Emanuel 2
Gilbert 2
Isaac 2
Israel 2
Jno. 2
Joe 2
Matthew 2
Ralph 2
Rhodes 2
Sam 2
Andrew 1
Ben 1
Bradshaw 1
Brayshaw 1
Dick 1
Dickinson 1
Elijah 1
J. 1

FAQ

Westerman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Westerman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 978 people were recorded with the Westerman surname. That placed it at #3,977 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Westerman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,468 in 2016. That gives Westerman a modern rank of #4,194.

What does the Westerman surname mean?

A surname referring to someone who lived west of a prominent local landmark or settlement.

What does the Westerman map show?

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