NameCensus.

UK surname

Westrup

An English toponymic surname indicating familial origin from a west settlement or farm.

In the 1881 census there were 126 people recorded with the Westrup surname, ranking it #17,245 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 130, ranked #26,152, down from #17,245 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Hammersmith. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Rutland and St Albans.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Westrup is 196 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.2%.

1881 census count

126

Ranked #17,245

Modern count

130

2016, ranked #26,152

Peak year

1911

196 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Westrup had 126 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,245 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016, ranked #26,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 196 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Westrup surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Westrup surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Westrup 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 127 #14,547
1861 historical 89 #22,419
1881 historical 126 #17,245
1891 historical 123 #20,939
1901 historical 161 #17,324
1911 historical 196 #15,150
1997 modern 142 #21,856
1998 modern 146 #22,031
1999 modern 145 #22,305
2000 modern 141 #22,648
2001 modern 137 #22,740
2002 modern 143 #22,595
2003 modern 143 #22,367
2004 modern 143 #22,471
2005 modern 142 #22,577
2006 modern 142 #22,724
2007 modern 133 #24,059
2008 modern 131 #24,583
2009 modern 133 #24,817
2010 modern 134 #25,263
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 129 #25,705
2013 modern 132 #25,789
2014 modern 134 #25,711
2015 modern 130 #26,093
2016 modern 130 #26,152

Geography

Back to top

Where Westrups are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Hammersmith and Toft Monks. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Rutland, St Albans, Great Yarmouth and Mid Suffolk. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Hammersmith London (West Districts)
4 Toft Monks Norfolk
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 022 Cheshire East
2 Rutland 003 Rutland
3 St Albans 010 St Albans
4 Great Yarmouth 008 Great Yarmouth
5 Mid Suffolk 003 Mid Suffolk

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Westrup

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Westrup

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Westrup, 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 Westrup surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Westrup 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Westrup 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

Westrup is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Westrup

The surname Westrup has its roots in the West Germanic languages, with origins dating back to the 8th century. It is believed to have originated in the region of Westphalia, which lies in present-day North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The name is derived from the Old Saxon words "west" and "hrop," meaning "west" and "boundary" or "outlying farm," respectively.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Westrup can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document mentions a landowner named Westerop, which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the surname.

During the Middle Ages, the Westrup family was prominent in the region of Westphalia, with several members holding positions of influence and authority. One notable individual was Gerhard von Westrup, a respected knight who participated in the Crusades during the 12th century.

As the surname spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Westropp, Westrop, and Westroupe. In England, the name Westrup first appeared in the late 13th century, with records indicating that a Robert Westrup was a landowner in the county of Lincolnshire.

One of the most famous bearers of the Westrup surname was Sir John Westrup, an English politician and military commander who lived during the 16th century (1520-1585). He served as a Member of Parliament and played a significant role in the suppression of the Wyatt Rebellion in 1554.

Another notable individual was Hendrik Westrup (1685-1765), a Dutch painter and engraver known for his landscapes and cityscapes depicting the Netherlands during the 18th century.

In the realm of literature, the surname Westrup is associated with the English writer and poet Mary Westrup (1819-1898), whose works explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality.

The Westrup family also had a presence in the United States, with one of the earliest recorded instances being that of Johann Westrup, a German immigrant who settled in Pennsylvania in the early 18th century (1710-1785).

Throughout history, the surname Westrup has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, artists, and military leaders, contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural heritage across various regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Westrup families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Westrup 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 Westrups recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.66x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 45 3.66x
Suffolk 23 15.36x
Norfolk 22 11.64x
Surrey 15 2.50x
Buckinghamshire 5 6.73x
Glamorgan 5 2.34x
Kent 5 1.19x
Essex 2 0.82x
Hampshire 1 0.40x
Lancashire 1 0.07x
Lincolnshire 1 0.51x
Shropshire 1 0.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 16 Westrups recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.03x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 16 30.03x
Kelsale 14 3333.33x
Burgh St Peter 12 8000.00x
Camberwell 8 10.19x
Hornsey 8 51.48x
Kensington London 8 11.71x
Aldeby 7 2592.59x
Oystermouth 5 301.20x
Wycombe 5 90.25x
Chelsea London 4 10.80x
Lambeth 4 3.73x
St George Hanover 4 24.94x
Hammersmith London 3 9.91x
Leiston 3 291.26x
Lewisham 3 13.42x
Friston 2 1250.00x
Gravesend 2 56.34x
Halesworth 2 188.68x
Little Parndon 2 4000.00x
Battersea 1 2.21x
Croydon 1 3.01x
Great Grimsby 1 8.02x
Great Yarmouth 1 6.39x
Hampton London 1 49.51x
Heigham 1 9.86x
Holdenhurst 1 15.13x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 17.64x
Knodishall 1 526.32x
Newington 1 2.20x
Peasenhall 1 277.78x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 26.81x
Stoke Newington London 1 10.45x
Toxteth Park 1 2.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Ellen 4
Emma 4
Sarah 4
Elizabeth 3
Harriet 3
Anna 2
Anne 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Hapzibeth 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Applonnia 1
Barbara 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eidith 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hapzith 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Letty 1
Mabel 1
Maller 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Nellie 1
Polly 1
Rosa 1
Rosina 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Westrup surname: questions and answers

How common was the Westrup surname in 1881?

In 1881, 126 people were recorded with the Westrup surname. That placed it at #17,245 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Westrup surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016. That gives Westrup a modern rank of #26,152.

What does the Westrup surname mean?

An English toponymic surname indicating familial origin from a west settlement or farm.

What does the Westrup map show?

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