NameCensus.

UK surname

Westfield

A locational surname indicating someone who lived near or from a western field.

In the 1881 census there were 165 people recorded with the Westfield surname, ranking it #14,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 181, ranked #20,955, down from #14,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Walthamstow, Low Leyton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Havant, North Lincolnshire and Dover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Westfield is 212 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.7%.

1881 census count

165

Ranked #14,559

Modern count

181

2016, ranked #20,955

Peak year

1911

212 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Westfield had 165 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016, ranked #20,955.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 212 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Westfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Westfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Westfield 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 149 #12,967
1861 historical 194 #12,310
1881 historical 165 #14,559
1891 historical 181 #16,065
1901 historical 196 #15,329
1911 historical 212 #14,423
1997 modern 196 #17,859
1998 modern 191 #18,624
1999 modern 190 #18,797
2000 modern 176 #19,698
2001 modern 173 #19,635
2002 modern 168 #20,396
2003 modern 166 #20,320
2004 modern 164 #20,609
2005 modern 167 #20,296
2006 modern 169 #20,294
2007 modern 170 #20,471
2008 modern 166 #20,966
2009 modern 184 #20,079
2010 modern 181 #20,738
2011 modern 183 #20,425
2012 modern 178 #20,758
2013 modern 177 #21,170
2014 modern 182 #20,958
2015 modern 184 #20,719
2016 modern 181 #20,955

Geography

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Where Westfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Walthamstow, Low Leyton, London parishes, Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Havant, North Lincolnshire and Dover. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 Walthamstow, Low Leyton Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Havant 017 Havant
2 North Lincolnshire 005 North Lincolnshire
3 North Lincolnshire 015 North Lincolnshire
4 Dover 011 Dover
5 North Lincolnshire 003 North Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Westfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Westfield

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Westfield surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Westfield household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Westfield is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Westfield is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Westfield falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Westfield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Westfield

The surname Westfield originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational surname derived from the Old English words "west" meaning "west" and "feld" meaning "field." As a result, the name likely referred to someone who lived near or came from a western field or meadow.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Westfield can be found in various historical records, including the Domesday Book of 1086. This famous manuscript, commissioned by William the Conqueror, recorded landowners and their properties throughout England. Several entries mention individuals with the surname Westfield or similar spellings like Westfelde or Westefelde.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various tax rolls and legal documents. One notable example is John de Westfeld, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279. The "de" prefix indicates that he was from a place called Westfield.

In the 16th century, the surname Westfield gained prominence with the birth of Thomas Westfield (c. 1573-1644), an English clergyman and bishop. He served as the Bishop of Bristol and later as the Bishop of Ardfert and Aghadoe in Ireland.

Another notable individual with this surname was Benjamin Westfield (1614-1692), an English Puritan minister and theologian. He was a prominent figure in the Westminster Assembly, a council that helped shape the doctrines of the Church of England.

During the 18th century, the Westfield surname was found in various parish records and legal documents across England. One notable example is William Westfield (1734-1808), an English engraver and artist known for his landscape and portrait etchings.

In the 19th century, the surname gained further recognition with the birth of Richard Westfield (1801-1865), an English architect and surveyor. He was involved in the design and construction of several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Exchange.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Westfield (1828-1907), an English novelist and writer. She published several novels and short stories, many of which explored themes of social commentary and feminist ideals.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Westfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Westfield 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. Middlesex leads with 45 Westfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.80x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 45 2.80x
Lincolnshire 31 12.05x
Kent 15 2.73x
Surrey 15 1.91x
Essex 12 3.78x
Yorkshire 12 0.75x
Norfolk 7 2.83x
Hampshire 5 1.52x
Lancashire 5 0.26x
Gloucestershire 4 1.27x
Warwickshire 4 0.99x
Buckinghamshire 2 2.06x
Staffordshire 2 0.37x
Sussex 2 0.74x
Cheshire 1 0.28x
Derbyshire 1 0.40x
Hertfordshire 1 0.90x
Renfrewshire 1 0.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burton Upon Stather in Lincolnshire leads with 10 Westfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 3030.30x.

Place Total Index
Burton Upon Stather 10 3030.30x
Lambeth 9 6.41x
Poplar London 8 26.34x
St Sepulchre London 8 338.98x
Hackney London 7 7.76x
Leyton 7 127.97x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 6 80.75x
St George Hanover 6 28.56x
Stoke Newington London 6 47.85x
Ardwick 5 29.02x
Bagmore Burton By 5 2941.18x
Dunholme 5 2272.73x
Portsmouth 5 65.79x
Bow London 4 19.52x
Sculcoates 4 15.82x
Sittingbourne 4 92.17x
Southwark Christchurch 4 53.05x
Walthamstow 4 35.00x
Appleby 3 1000.00x
Birmingham 3 2.22x
Brightside Bierlow 3 9.59x
Deptford St Paul 3 7.08x
Islington London 3 1.92x
Tewkesbury 3 106.38x
Thorne 3 151.52x
Canterbury St Paul 2 202.02x
Kingswinford 2 10.14x
Lewisham 2 6.83x
Newington 2 3.36x
Scunthorpe 2 172.41x
South Bersted 2 86.58x
Theddlethorpe All Sts 2 1111.11x
Wycombe 2 27.59x
Alcester 1 74.63x
Bradwell 1 178.57x
Bromley 1 11.95x
Clenchwarton 1 270.27x
Coleby West Halton 1 714.29x
Flixborough 1 769.23x
Gillingham 1 8.83x
Hemel Hempstead 1 20.00x
Hibaldstow 1 227.27x
Inverkip 1 34.01x
Kensington London 1 1.12x
Kingstanley 1 85.47x
Limehouse London 1 5.66x
Macclesfield 1 6.33x
Ramsgate 1 11.16x
Rawmarsh 1 17.76x
St George In East 1 9.13x
Sykehouse 1 454.55x
Woodford 1 27.78x
Woolwich 1 4.93x
Wrawby 1 142.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Sarah 6
Lucy 5
Alice 4
Charlotte 4
Elizabeth 4
Hannah 3
Maria 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Ester 2
Florence 2
Isabella 2
Jane 2
Martha 2
Susanna 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Balkis 1
Christiania 1
Clara 1
Constantia 1
Daisy 1
Druscilla 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Henrietta 1
Joan 1
Kate 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Sarrah 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
George 8
John 7
Charles 6
Robert 6
Frank 5
Henry 5
Richard 5
Frederick 4
James 4
Arthur 2
Fredk. 2
Joseph 2
Phinehas 2
Wm. 2
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Ely 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Infant 1
Marshall 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Susannah 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Westfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Westfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 165 people were recorded with the Westfield surname. That placed it at #14,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Westfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016. That gives Westfield a modern rank of #20,955.

What does the Westfield surname mean?

A locational surname indicating someone who lived near or from a western field.

What does the Westfield map show?

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