NameCensus.

UK surname

Westmorland

From the western county in England.

In the 1881 census there were 382 people recorded with the Westmorland surname, ranking it #8,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 252, ranked #16,699, down from #8,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Carlisle St Cuthbert and Penrith. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carlisle, East Riding of Yorkshire and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Westmorland is 404 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 34.0%.

1881 census count

382

Ranked #8,222

Modern count

252

2016, ranked #16,699

Peak year

1891

404 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Westmorland had 382 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016, ranked #16,699.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 404 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Westmorland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Westmorland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Westmorland 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 285 #7,952
1861 historical 297 #8,508
1881 historical 382 #8,222
1891 historical 404 #8,802
1901 historical 288 #11,973
1911 historical 382 #9,615
1997 modern 279 #14,175
1998 modern 292 #14,120
1999 modern 299 #14,000
2000 modern 294 #14,105
2001 modern 271 #14,691
2002 modern 275 #14,819
2003 modern 264 #15,071
2004 modern 263 #15,189
2005 modern 257 #15,365
2006 modern 261 #15,289
2007 modern 269 #15,123
2008 modern 274 #15,063
2009 modern 286 #14,910
2010 modern 289 #15,127
2011 modern 288 #15,009
2012 modern 268 #15,745
2013 modern 257 #16,466
2014 modern 262 #16,380
2015 modern 261 #16,318
2016 modern 252 #16,699

Geography

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Where Westmorlands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Carlisle St Cuthbert, Penrith, Nottingham St Mary and Wakefield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carlisle, East Riding of Yorkshire, Central Bedfordshire, County Durham and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Bees Cumberland
2 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
3 Penrith Cumberland
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carlisle 013 Carlisle
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 031 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Central Bedfordshire 003 Central Bedfordshire
4 County Durham 051 County Durham
5 Kingston upon Hull 020 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Westmorland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Westmorland

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Westmorland is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Westmorland is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Westmorland

The surname Westmorland originated in England, specifically in the historic county of Westmorland, now part of the modern county of Cumbria. The name dates back to the 12th century and is derived from the Old English words "west" and "mor," meaning "moor" or "upland." Thus, Westmorland referred to the western uplands or moorlands of the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname appears in the Pipe Rolls of Westmorland from 1197, where a person named Walter de Westmerlond is mentioned. The name is also found in various medieval records, such as the Assize Rolls and the Feet of Fines.

In the 13th century, a notable figure with the surname Westmorland was William de Westmorland, who served as the Sheriff of Westmorland during the reign of King Henry III (1216-1272). Another early bearer of the name was John de Westmorland, a member of the English Parliament in 1314.

During the 14th century, the surname gained prominence with Hugh de Westmorland, who was appointed as the Bishop of Carlisle in 1356. He played a crucial role in the defense of the Scottish border during the Hundred Years' War.

In the 15th century, Ralph Westmorland, born around 1435, was a significant figure. He served as a Member of Parliament for Westmorland and was known for his involvement in local affairs.

The surname Westmorland continued to be associated with the region throughout the centuries. In the 17th century, Sir Ralph Westmorland (1601-1677) was a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Westmorland.

It's worth noting that the spelling of the surname has evolved over time, with variations such as Westmerlond, Westmerlande, and Westmoreland appearing in historical records. Additionally, the name has connections to various place names in the region, such as the town of Westmorland and the Westmorland Fells.

Overall, the surname Westmorland has a rich history deeply rooted in the English county of the same name, reflecting the geographical and cultural heritage of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Westmorland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Westmorland 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 149 Westmorlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.10x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 149 4.10x
Cumberland 62 19.63x
Lincolnshire 30 5.12x
Durham 25 2.29x
Westmorland 18 22.33x
Middlesex 17 0.46x
Lancashire 10 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 10 2.02x
Derbyshire 9 1.57x
Essex 6 0.83x
Surrey 6 0.34x
Warwickshire 6 0.65x
Sussex 5 0.81x
Wiltshire 5 1.54x
Kent 4 0.32x
Norfolk 3 0.53x
Northumberland 3 0.55x
Leicestershire 2 0.49x
Berkshire 1 0.36x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.43x
Cheshire 1 0.12x
Hertfordshire 1 0.40x
Midlothian 1 0.20x
Northamptonshire 1 0.29x

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 17 Westmorlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.28x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 17 8.28x
Penrith 14 119.97x
St Cuthbert W O 14 90.97x
Ousby 11 3548.39x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 11 65.13x
Shipley 10 53.02x
West Ardsley 10 228.83x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 9 68.18x
Derby St Werburgh 9 27.14x
Monk Bretton 9 244.57x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 9 69.34x
Hunslet 8 14.12x
Methley 8 156.25x
Newbottle 8 134.23x
Nottingham St Mary 8 6.26x
Orton 8 331.95x
West Herrington 8 209.42x
Alger Kirk Amber Hill 6 2222.22x
Aston 6 2.36x
Baildon 6 87.72x
Barningham 6 1818.18x
Keyingham 6 759.49x
Kirton In Lindsey 6 258.62x
Lambourne 6 555.56x
Brighton 5 4.01x
Croydon 5 5.04x
Edenhall 5 1470.59x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 10.58x
Holy Trinity 5 5.72x
Nether Hallam 5 10.17x
North Coates 5 1515.15x
Kirkby Thore 4 615.38x
Ratcliffe London 4 19.75x
Salisbury St Thomas 4 155.64x
Sockbridge 4 1481.48x
Workington 4 22.12x
Bassenthwaite 3 468.75x
Brantingham 3 882.35x
Cheetham 3 9.24x
Cummersdale 3 277.78x
Ealing 3 9.15x
Everton 3 2.16x
Hunstanton 3 157.89x
Hutton Magna 3 1304.35x
Morley 3 15.87x
Plumstead 3 7.19x
Spalding 3 25.77x
Tankersley 3 110.70x
Whitwood 3 58.14x
Barnsley 2 5.33x
Chester Le Street 2 23.87x
Hanworth 2 155.04x
Holbeach 2 30.63x
Hunton 2 384.62x
Leicester St Margaret 2 2.02x
Middlesbrough 2 4.23x
Normanton 2 18.32x
South Somercoates 2 377.36x
St Mary Within 2 50.76x
Stainton 2 188.68x
Tottenham 2 3.42x
West Derby 2 1.57x
Whickham 2 19.92x
Ainstable 1 175.44x
Bampton 1 147.06x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.40x
Burnage 1 93.46x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.04x
Digby 1 263.16x
Hackney London 1 0.49x
Halifax 1 1.87x
Knaith Lea Gate Burton 1 212.77x
Lambeth 1 0.31x
Preston Quarter 1 11.30x
Sandhurst 1 18.76x
Sempringham 1 909.09x
St George Hanover 1 2.09x
St George Martyr 1 16.18x
Tanshelf 1 34.48x
Wigton 1 21.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Sarah 21
Elizabeth 15
Ann 13
Jane 12
Margaret 9
Emma 5
Annie 4
Edith 4
Eliza 4
Hannah 4
Isabella 4
Alice 3
Anne 3
Ellen 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Rosa 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Betsy 2
Charlotte 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Maria 2
Rose 2
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Catherine 1
Charlott 1
Ester 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Feodora 1
Florance 1
Francess 1
Francis 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lillie 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Louiza 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Marion 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 20
William 19
George 15
Joseph 14
Thomas 13
James 9
Arthur 7
Joshua 5
Christopher 4
Thos. 4
Albert 3
Herbert 3
Matthew 3
Moses 3
Richard 3
Tom 3
Henry 2
Jas. 2
Robert 2
Benjamin 1
Caleb 1
Daniel 1
Donal 1
Eardley 1
Earl 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Elisha 1
Ernest 1
Ezra 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Jackson 1
Jesse 1
Lawman 1
Lily 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Melvill 1
Montague 1
Morris 1
Nixon 1
Saml. 1
Sampson 1
Samuel 1
Socrates 1
Wm.Ch. 1

FAQ

Westmorland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Westmorland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 382 people were recorded with the Westmorland surname. That placed it at #8,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Westmorland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016. That gives Westmorland a modern rank of #16,699.

What does the Westmorland surname mean?

From the western county in England.

What does the Westmorland map show?

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