NameCensus.

UK surname

Westlake

A locational surname referring to someone who lived by the western lake or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 2,144 people recorded with the Westlake surname, ranking it #2,068 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,614, ranked #2,547, down from #2,068 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Seaton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, South Somerset and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Westlake is 2,828 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.9%.

1881 census count

2,144

Ranked #2,068

Modern count

2,614

2016, ranked #2,547

Peak year

1999

2,828 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Westlake had 2,144 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,068 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,614 in 2016, ranked #2,547.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,811 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Westlake surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Westlake surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Westlake 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 1,493 #1,927
1861 historical 1,586 #1,798
1881 historical 2,144 #2,068
1891 historical 2,236 #2,086
1901 historical 2,558 #2,147
1911 historical 2,811 #1,850
1997 modern 2,712 #2,358
1998 modern 2,801 #2,376
1999 modern 2,828 #2,376
2000 modern 2,792 #2,389
2001 modern 2,720 #2,393
2002 modern 2,759 #2,413
2003 modern 2,683 #2,420
2004 modern 2,651 #2,443
2005 modern 2,562 #2,487
2006 modern 2,557 #2,493
2007 modern 2,542 #2,531
2008 modern 2,541 #2,548
2009 modern 2,603 #2,557
2010 modern 2,680 #2,537
2011 modern 2,664 #2,523
2012 modern 2,599 #2,536
2013 modern 2,667 #2,519
2014 modern 2,652 #2,547
2015 modern 2,619 #2,550
2016 modern 2,614 #2,547

Geography

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Where Westlakes are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, South Somerset, Cornwall and West 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 Seaton Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Exbourne Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 009 East Devon
2 South Somerset 009 South Somerset
3 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
4 West Devon 002 West Devon
5 Cornwall 002 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Westlake

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Westlake

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

Westlake is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Westlake

The surname Westlake originates from England and dates back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "west" and "lacu," meaning "west lake" or "western lake." This suggests that the name was likely first borne by someone who lived near a western lake or body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Westlake surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a William de Westlake is mentioned. The "de" prefix indicates that the name was originally a place name before becoming a hereditary surname.

Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Westlake, Westlacke, and Westlack. These variations were influenced by regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

The Westlake surname is also associated with several place names in England, including Westlake in Somerset and Westlake Farm in Gloucestershire. These locations may have been the original homesteads of families bearing the Westlake name.

Notable individuals with the Westlake surname throughout history include:

1. Thomas Westlake (1645-1725), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Torrington in Devon. 2. John Westlake (1828-1913), an English jurist and scholar of international law, who authored several influential works on the subject. 3. Nathaniel Westlake (1833-1921), an English architect who designed numerous buildings in London, including St. Stephen's Church and the Wandsworth Town Hall. 4. Mary Westlake (1858-1924), an English writer and suffragist who campaigned for women's rights and advocated for women's education. 5. Raymond Westlake (1898-1973), a British film director and screenwriter known for his work in the early days of British cinema, including the film "The Ghost Camera" (1933).

While census data and modern records may provide additional information on the prevalence and distribution of the Westlake surname, this report focuses on the historical origins, early recorded instances, and notable individuals bearing the name throughout its long history in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Westlake families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Westlake 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 775 Westlakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.60x.

County Total Index
Devon 775 17.60x
Somerset 251 7.37x
Middlesex 231 1.09x
Surrey 200 1.94x
Cornwall 156 6.51x
Gloucestershire 119 2.87x
Hampshire 58 1.34x
Glamorgan 55 1.49x
Kent 44 0.61x
Wiltshire 42 2.24x
Monmouthshire 28 1.83x
Lancashire 25 0.10x
Yorkshire 19 0.09x
Channel Islands 17 2.71x
Dorset 15 1.08x
Durham 14 0.22x
Suffolk 14 0.54x
Berkshire 13 0.82x
Essex 11 0.26x
Westmorland 11 2.37x
Warwickshire 10 0.19x
Royal Navy 9 3.57x
Derbyshire 8 0.24x
Sussex 7 0.20x
Brecknockshire 6 1.42x
Lincolnshire 6 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.21x
Herefordshire 4 0.46x
Cheshire 3 0.06x
Norfolk 3 0.09x
Cumberland 2 0.11x
Worcestershire 2 0.07x
Angus 1 0.05x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.08x
Flintshire 1 0.18x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Midlothian 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. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 104 Westlakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.65x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 104 30.65x
Stoke Damerel 51 16.55x
Lambeth 47 2.55x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 35 8.96x
Plymouth Charles The 35 18.04x
Hartland 32 233.41x
Long Sutton 32 504.73x
Bedminster 31 9.69x
Seaton 31 182.57x
St Marylebone London 31 2.74x
Battersea 28 3.60x
Tavistock 25 49.83x
Exbourne 23 845.59x
Mile End Old Town 19 5.69x
Kensington London 18 1.53x
Otterford 18 614.33x
Rotherhithe 18 6.89x
Weston Super Mare 18 20.93x
Clifton 17 8.10x
Islington London 17 0.83x
Walkhampton 17 402.84x
Okehampton 16 96.33x
Roath 16 9.56x
Bridgewater 15 16.22x
Newington 15 1.92x
Tormoham 15 8.05x
Bratton Clovelly 14 321.84x
Brentor 14 1489.36x
Buckland Monachorum 14 148.78x
Croydon 14 2.45x
Deptford St Paul 14 2.51x
Swindon 14 9.65x
Bristol St James St Paul 13 9.40x
Calstock 13 27.67x
Camberwell 13 0.96x
Easton In Gordano 13 94.82x
Reigate Foreign 13 11.65x
Westminster St John 13 5.05x
Bermondsey 12 1.91x
Bristol St Paul In 12 10.85x
Paddington London 12 1.54x
Bridestow 11 236.05x
Poplar London 11 2.75x
Southampton St Mary 11 4.03x
St Budeaux 11 80.23x
Taunton St Mary 11 17.59x
Banwell 10 80.45x
Beerferris 10 116.55x
Bristol St George 10 5.21x
Bromley London 10 2.15x
Chelsea London 10 1.57x
East Stonehouse 10 11.53x
Exeter St Mary Steps 10 100.60x
Northam 10 31.15x
Sampford Spiney 10 335.57x
South Petherwin 10 166.94x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 2.35x
Walcot 10 5.51x
Andover 9 21.97x
Barnstaple 9 13.02x
Christchurch 9 19.02x
Gravesend 9 14.73x
Keynsham 9 36.79x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 9 99.78x
Royal Navy 9 4.18x
Southampton All Sts 9 12.10x
St Columb Minor 9 44.75x
St Giles On The Heath 9 450.00x
St Mary Extra 9 25.79x
Stoke Climsland 9 58.82x
Swansea Town 9 2.98x
Tanfield 9 12.02x
Toxteth Park 9 1.06x
Bideford 8 16.96x
Hatherleigh 8 72.99x
Lifton 8 75.47x
Rame 8 129.66x
Somerton 8 57.51x
St Peter Port 8 6.90x
Trowbridge 8 9.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 152
Elizabeth 109
Sarah 63
Emma 44
Jane 38
Eliza 35
Ellen 33
Ann 32
Emily 28
Annie 25
Alice 17
Louisa 17
Kate 16
Clara 14
Florence 14
Jessie 14
Bessie 13
Caroline 13
Charlotte 11
Hannah 11
Martha 11
Susan 11
Ada 10
Edith 10
Anna 9
Anne 9
Elizth. 9
Grace 9
Margaret 9
Maria 9
Frances 8
Harriet 8
Minnie 8
Agnes 7
Fanny 7
Lucy 7
Rebecca 7
Rosa 7
Mabel 6
Matilda 6
Beatrice 5
Laura 5
Rosina 5
Amelia 4
Amy 4
Bessy 4
Betsy 4
Catherine 4
Harriett 4
Selina 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 152
John 144
George 95
Thomas 74
James 52
Richard 46
Henry 44
Charles 33
Samuel 27
Alfred 23
Robert 23
Walter 23
Edward 20
Arthur 19
Albert 17
Joseph 17
Frederick 16
Ernest 14
Francis 14
Harry 13
Herbert 11
Benjamin 8
Frank 8
Edwin 7
Simon 7
Wm. 7
Geo. 6
Fredrick 4
Isaac 4
Thos. 4
Ebenezer 3
Edgar 3
Oliver 3
Robt. 3
Sidney 3
Stanley 3
Andrew 2
Archibald 2
Bernard 2
Brice 2
C. 2
Fredk. 2
Gilbert 2
Josiah 2
Leonard 2
Mark 2
Martin 2
Philip 2
Sydney 2
Tom 2

FAQ

Westlake surname: questions and answers

How common was the Westlake surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,144 people were recorded with the Westlake surname. That placed it at #2,068 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Westlake surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,614 in 2016. That gives Westlake a modern rank of #2,547.

What does the Westlake surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived by the western lake or stream.

What does the Westlake map show?

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