NameCensus.

UK surname

Westman

A surname denoting someone who lived west of a settlement or originated from western Europe.

In the 1881 census there were 106 people recorded with the Westman surname, ranking it #19,083 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 151, ranked #23,615, down from #19,083 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Colston Basset and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, West Lindsey and Cotswold.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Westman is 205 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.5%.

1881 census count

106

Ranked #19,083

Modern count

151

2016, ranked #23,615

Peak year

1891

205 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Westman had 106 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,083 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016, ranked #23,615.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 205 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Westman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Westman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Westman 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 40 #26,118
1861 historical 145 #15,715
1881 historical 106 #19,083
1891 historical 205 #14,649
1901 historical 96 #23,342
1911 historical 154 #17,553
1997 modern 126 #23,461
1998 modern 144 #22,221
1999 modern 134 #23,378
2000 modern 138 #22,960
2001 modern 127 #23,781
2002 modern 133 #23,585
2003 modern 137 #22,939
2004 modern 137 #23,098
2005 modern 138 #22,999
2006 modern 134 #23,590
2007 modern 142 #23,025
2008 modern 144 #23,037
2009 modern 149 #23,031
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 150 #23,309
2012 modern 147 #23,567
2013 modern 152 #23,438
2014 modern 145 #24,395
2015 modern 152 #23,507
2016 modern 151 #23,615

Geography

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Where Westmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Colston Basset, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Dalton-le-Dale and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, West Lindsey, Cotswold and Taunton Deane. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Colston Basset Nottinghamshire
3 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
4 Dalton-le-Dale Durham
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 027 Bradford
2 West Lindsey 003 West Lindsey
3 West Lindsey 008 West Lindsey
4 Cotswold 011 Cotswold
5 Taunton Deane 011 Taunton Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Westman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Westman

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Westman 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

Westman 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

Westman falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Westman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Westman

The surname Westman originated in England during the medieval period, derived from the Old English words "west" and "mann," meaning "a man from the west." It was a locational name given to someone who lived west of a particular town, village, or landmark.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the 13th century, with references found in various historical documents, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273. One notable example is John Westman, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Placita de Quo Warranto records of 1292, where Robert Westman was listed as a landowner in Norfolk. During this period, the surname was also found in various spellings, including Westeman and Westemon.

As the name spread across England, it became associated with several place names, such as Westmantown in Yorkshire and Westmanscote in Gloucestershire. These place names likely contributed to the adoption of the surname by families residing in those areas.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Westman surname was Sir John Westman, a knight who fought in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 during the Hundred Years' War. His descendants continued to use the surname and held prominent positions in various parts of England.

In the 16th century, the surname gained further recognition with the birth of Thomas Westman (1522-1592), an English theologian and Protestant reformer. He was a prominent figure during the Reformation and played a significant role in the translation of the Geneva Bible.

Another notable individual with the Westman surname was Sir John Westman (1632-1705), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from London. He donated funds for the construction of several churches and supported various charitable causes.

During the 17th century, the Westman family also established itself in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded individuals was William Westman, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and later settled in Maryland.

In the 19th century, the surname gained prominence with the birth of Charles Westman (1827-1892), a Swedish-American inventor and engineer. He is best known for his contributions to the development of the modern sewing machine and other innovative designs.

Throughout its history, the Westman surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including nobles, clergy, merchants, and artisans, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and occupations of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Westman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Westman 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 35 Westmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.42x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 35 3.42x
Durham 16 5.20x
Lancashire 12 0.98x
Leicestershire 10 8.72x
Warwickshire 10 3.84x
Nottinghamshire 6 4.31x
Middlesex 4 0.39x
Surrey 4 0.79x
Staffordshire 3 0.86x
Sussex 2 1.15x
Devon 1 0.46x
Dorset 1 1.47x
Hampshire 1 0.47x
Somerset 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manningham in Yorkshire leads with 11 Westmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.16x.

Place Total Index
Manningham 11 87.16x
Ansley 8 2758.62x
Dawdon 8 211.64x
Leicester St Mary 8 86.39x
Cockerton 7 707.07x
Headingley Cum Burley 7 106.22x
Thornton In Bradford 7 205.28x
Colston Bassett 6 5454.55x
Turton 6 298.51x
Middlesbrough 4 29.99x
Camberwell 3 4.54x
Walsall Borough 3 110.70x
West Derby 3 8.36x
Aismunderby Cum 2 689.66x
Bradford 2 8.06x
Hastings St Mary In The 2 53.76x
Hugglescote 2 118.34x
Islington London 2 2.00x
Birmingham 1 1.15x
Edgbaston 1 12.38x
Hackney London 1 1.73x
Hipperholme Cum 1 22.22x
Horton In Bradford 1 6.25x
Lambeth 1 1.11x
Liverpool 1 1.34x
Manchester 1 1.81x
Portland 1 27.40x
Preston 1 3.05x
Ryde 1 21.98x
South Shields 1 36.50x
Tormoham 1 10.98x
Twickenham 1 22.57x
Weston Super Mare 1 23.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Sarah 7
Eliza 4
Margaret 4
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Bridget 1
Catharine 1
Catherena 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Ella 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Isabella 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Letitia 1
May 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
John 7
George 5
Joseph 4
Thomas 4
James 3
Alexander 2
Helliwell 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Carter 1
Daniel 1
Emil 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Georg 1
Hugo 1
Jas. 1
Lones 1
Patrick 1
Robert 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Westman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Westman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 106 people were recorded with the Westman surname. That placed it at #19,083 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Westman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016. That gives Westman a modern rank of #23,615.

What does the Westman surname mean?

A surname denoting someone who lived west of a settlement or originated from western Europe.

What does the Westman map show?

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