NameCensus.

UK surname

Westmore

A locational surname referring to someone from a western place or living west of a given reference point.

In the 1881 census there were 283 people recorded with the Westmore surname, ranking it #10,119 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 343, ranked #13,368, down from #10,119 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newchurch, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight and Lincoln.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Westmore is 380 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.2%.

1881 census count

283

Ranked #10,119

Modern count

343

2016, ranked #13,368

Peak year

1891

380 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Westmore had 283 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,119 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 343 in 2016, ranked #13,368.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 380 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Westmore surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Westmore surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Westmore 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 175 #11,542
1861 historical 225 #10,843
1881 historical 283 #10,119
1891 historical 380 #9,231
1901 historical 354 #10,347
1911 historical 375 #9,747
1997 modern 354 #12,060
1998 modern 376 #11,918
1999 modern 373 #12,054
2000 modern 358 #12,356
2001 modern 358 #12,181
2002 modern 367 #12,198
2003 modern 364 #12,068
2004 modern 367 #12,028
2005 modern 359 #12,143
2006 modern 356 #12,284
2007 modern 346 #12,689
2008 modern 344 #12,874
2009 modern 349 #12,995
2010 modern 334 #13,690
2011 modern 325 #13,808
2012 modern 324 #13,751
2013 modern 335 #13,604
2014 modern 343 #13,463
2015 modern 344 #13,332
2016 modern 343 #13,368

Geography

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Where Westmores are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newchurch, London parishes, St Pancras, Shorwell, Brixton, Kingston and Godshill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight and Lincoln. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Shorwell, Brixton, Kingston Hampshire
5 Godshill Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 011 Isle of Wight
2 Isle of Wight 009 Isle of Wight
3 Isle of Wight 018 Isle of Wight
4 Lincoln 010 Lincoln
5 Isle of Wight 003 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Westmore

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Westmore

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Westmore surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Westmore household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Westmore 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

Westmore is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Westmore falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Westmore is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Westmore

The surname Westmore has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place name referring to a western area or settlement. The name may have originated from the Old English words "west" meaning west and "mor" meaning moor or marsh, indicating a western moorland or marshy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Westmore can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, including Westmere and Westmor, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling during that time.

In the 13th century, records show a William de Westmore from Hertfordshire, suggesting the presence of the name in that county. The prefix "de" indicates a surname derived from a place name, further supporting the locational origin of Westmore.

During the 16th century, the name Westmore gained prominence with notable individuals such as Sir Thomas Westmore (1503-1565), a Member of Parliament and landowner in Wiltshire. Another prominent figure was John Westmore (1570-1628), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Ickham in Kent.

In the 17th century, a family by the name of Westmore resided in the parish of Fittleton, Wiltshire. Records from this period also mention a Thomas Westmore (1635-1701), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Hertfordshire.

Moving into the 18th century, the name Westmore continued to be associated with notable individuals, such as Samuel Westmore (1720-1789), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Taunton. Additionally, there was a John Westmore (1745-1821), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire.

Throughout the 19th century, the Westmore surname appeared in various parts of England, with individuals like William Westmore (1815-1892), a prominent industrialist and factory owner from Lancashire, and Mary Westmore (1830-1910), a renowned author and poet from Gloucestershire.

These examples illustrate the long-standing presence of the Westmore surname in England, with its origins rooted in the medieval period and its association with notable figures across various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Westmore families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Westmore 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. Hampshire leads with 162 Westmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.94x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 162 28.94x
Middlesex 52 1.90x
Surrey 19 1.43x
Lancashire 18 0.56x
Kent 10 1.07x
Lincolnshire 6 1.37x
Sussex 4 0.87x
Staffordshire 2 0.22x
Yorkshire 2 0.07x
Channel Islands 1 1.24x
Cheshire 1 0.17x
Gloucestershire 1 0.19x
Royal Navy 1 3.07x
Wiltshire 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Carisbrooke in Hampshire leads with 45 Westmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 579.15x.

Place Total Index
Carisbrooke 45 579.15x
St Pancras London 25 11.37x
Newport 17 559.21x
Northwood 14 175.66x
Ventnor 11 206.77x
West Derby 11 11.60x
Niton 10 1333.33x
Godshill 9 697.67x
Lewisham 9 18.11x
Kingston 8 1025.64x
Brading 7 94.09x
Mile End Old Town 7 16.24x
Shorwell 7 1228.07x
Battersea 6 5.97x
Bromley London 6 9.99x
Camberwell 6 3.44x
Islington London 6 2.27x
St Nicholas Lincoln 6 143.88x
Whitwell 6 909.09x
Arreton 5 277.78x
Lambeth 5 2.10x
Newchurch 5 393.70x
Boldre 4 199.01x
Kensington London 4 2.63x
Ryde 4 33.25x
Gatcombe 3 1428.57x
Liverpool 3 1.52x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 3.89x
Croydon 2 2.71x
Eastbourne 2 9.44x
West Bromwich 2 3.79x
Audlem 1 70.42x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.27x
Brighton 1 1.08x
Bristol St Paul In 1 7.01x
Brixton 1 217.39x
Chale 1 156.25x
Cheetham 1 4.14x
Chichester St Peter 1 270.27x
Christchurch 1 8.24x
Cranbrook 1 25.32x
Ellingstring 1 909.09x
Hampstead London 1 2.35x
Holy Rood 1 88.50x
Holy Trinity 1 1.54x
Lymington 1 24.33x
Royal Navy 1 3.59x
Salisbury The Close 1 169.49x
Shalfleet 1 92.59x
Shoreditch London 1 0.84x
St George Hanover 1 2.81x
St Helier 1 3.80x
St Marylebone London 1 0.69x
Warblington 1 45.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Fanny 10
Alice 9
Sarah 9
Emily 7
Elizabeth 6
Jane 6
Charlotte 4
Ellen 4
Ada 3
Amy 3
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Emma 3
Harriett 3
Jessie 3
Kate 3
Minnie 3
Anna 2
Annie 2
Beatrice 2
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Lucy 2
Rose 2
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Betty 1
Celia 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Francis 1
Henrietta 1
Hilda 1
Janet 1
Jesse 1
Joshia 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
Nellie 1
Phoebe 1
Sussanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
George 13
Henry 9
Frederick 8
Alfred 6
Charles 6
James 6
Arthur 5
Ernest 5
Harry 5
John 5
Walter 5
Edward 3
Frank 3
Fredrick 3
Robert 3
Thomas 3
Albert 2
David 2
Joseph 2
Alexander 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Edwin 1
Evelyn 1
Fred 1
Herbert 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Richard 1
Russell 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
T.W. 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Westmore surname: questions and answers

How common was the Westmore surname in 1881?

In 1881, 283 people were recorded with the Westmore surname. That placed it at #10,119 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Westmore surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 343 in 2016. That gives Westmore a modern rank of #13,368.

What does the Westmore surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a western place or living west of a given reference point.

What does the Westmore map show?

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