NameCensus.

UK surname

Westwater

An English habitational surname denoting someone who lived to the west of a river or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 390 people recorded with the Westwater surname, ranking it #8,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 589, ranked #8,846, down from #8,104 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Linlathen and Midcraigie, Wemyss and Stobswell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Westwater is 628 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.0%.

1881 census count

390

Ranked #8,104

Modern count

589

2016, ranked #8,846

Peak year

1999

628 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Westwater had 390 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,104 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 589 in 2016, ranked #8,846.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 539 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Westwater surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Westwater surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Westwater 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 232 #9,296
1861 historical 264 #9,385
1881 historical 390 #8,104
1891 historical 488 #7,581
1901 historical 539 #7,632
1911 historical 85 #24,322
1997 modern 583 #8,313
1998 modern 620 #8,202
1999 modern 628 #8,179
2000 modern 592 #8,497
2001 modern 572 #8,561
2002 modern 570 #8,740
2003 modern 567 #8,645
2004 modern 566 #8,685
2005 modern 573 #8,544
2006 modern 576 #8,542
2007 modern 581 #8,564
2008 modern 576 #8,675
2009 modern 577 #8,838
2010 modern 606 #8,723
2011 modern 608 #8,597
2012 modern 605 #8,550
2013 modern 604 #8,703
2014 modern 612 #8,667
2015 modern 595 #8,786
2016 modern 589 #8,846

Geography

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Where Westwaters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow, Auchterderran and Clackmannan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Linlathen and Midcraigie, Wemyss, Stobswell, Kirkcaldy Linktown & Seafield and IZ09. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Edinburgh Edinburgh
2 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Auchterderran Fife
5 Clackmannan Clackmannan

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Linlathen and Midcraigie Dundee City
2 Wemyss Fife
3 Stobswell Dundee City
4 Kirkcaldy Linktown & Seafield Fife
5 IZ09 West Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Westwater

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Westwater

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Westwater, 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 Westwater surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Westwater 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Westwater 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

Westwater is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Westwater 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 Westwater is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Westwater

The surname Westwater originated in Scotland, emerging in the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from a place called Westwater, which lies near the town of West Calder in West Lothian. The name is composed of the Old English words "west" and "wæter," meaning "west" and "water" respectively, likely referring to a body of water located to the west of the original bearers' place of residence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of Scottish nobles and landowners who were forced to swear allegiance to King Edward I of England. Here, the name appears as "de Westwatyr," reflecting its locational origins.

In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the name was Robert Westwater, a Scottish clergyman who served as the Bishop of Glasgow from 1367 to 1385. He played a significant role in the ongoing conflict between Scotland and England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

Another prominent figure with the surname was Sir John Westwater (1590-1662), a Scottish merchant and diplomat who served as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1636 to 1638. He was instrumental in negotiating trade agreements between Scotland and other European nations.

In the 18th century, James Westwater (1701-1776) was a renowned Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Assembly Rooms on George Street.

During the 19th century, the Westwater family produced several notable figures, including William Westwater (1834-1903), a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the steel industry in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Mary Westwater (1855-1938), a Scottish suffragist and campaigner for women's rights. She was actively involved in the movement to secure voting rights for women in Scotland and played a crucial role in the formation of the Scottish Federation of Women's Suffrage Societies.

The Westwater name has been found in various historical records and documents throughout the centuries, reflecting its long-standing presence in Scotland and the contributions of its bearers to various fields, including religion, architecture, business, and social activism.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Westwater families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Westwater 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. Fife leads with 135 Westwaters recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.95x.

County Total Index
Fife 135 59.95x
Lanarkshire 68 5.53x
Midlothian 33 6.48x
Stirlingshire 33 23.52x
Angus 30 8.51x
Clackmannanshire 27 85.93x
Durham 17 1.50x
Perthshire 16 9.37x
Renfrewshire 6 2.04x
Yorkshire 6 0.16x
Middlesex 5 0.13x
Northumberland 4 0.71x
Surrey 4 0.22x
Pembrokeshire 3 2.48x
Berwickshire 1 2.17x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.98x
Roxburghshire 1 1.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Auchterderran in Fife leads with 33 Westwaters recorded in 1881 and an index of 583.04x.

Place Total Index
Auchterderran 33 583.04x
Dysart 33 217.53x
Abbotshall 23 273.48x
Kirkcaldy 19 170.10x
Stirling 15 84.79x
Barony 12 3.85x
Cambusnethan 12 43.91x
Culross 11 743.24x
Dunipace 11 447.15x
Glasgow 11 5.04x
Alloa 10 65.62x
Cambuslang 10 80.65x
Markinch 9 117.65x
Tillicoultry 9 128.76x
Whitworth 9 108.56x
Clackmannan 8 134.68x
Dundee 8 6.08x
Edinburgh St Stephens 8 79.76x
Cramond 7 181.35x
Liff Benvie 7 13.08x
Mains 7 233.33x
North Leith 7 29.69x
Old Monkland 7 14.34x
Tudhoe 7 70.71x
Arbroath 6 51.37x
Cathcart 6 37.62x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 2.93x
Polmont 6 115.83x
Ballingry 5 359.71x
Beath 5 70.22x
Middlesbrough 5 10.19x
Mile End Old Town 5 8.33x
Rutherglen 5 27.70x
Scoonie 5 102.46x
Govan 4 1.31x
Tynemouth 4 13.20x
Hamilton 3 8.74x
Kinglassie 3 175.44x
Lambeth 3 0.90x
Pembroke St Mary 3 19.27x
Rattray 3 75.57x
South Leith 3 5.23x
Edinburgh St Marys 2 20.18x
Monifieth 2 16.06x
Blantyre 1 7.81x
Boldon 1 24.81x
Bothwell 1 3.00x
Crailing 1 120.48x
Crieff 1 15.75x
Dorking 1 8.03x
Earlston 1 43.29x
Gilling 1 88.50x
Kippen 1 52.91x
Kirkintilloch 1 7.20x
Logie 1 16.31x
New Monkland 1 2.75x
Stonehouse 1 23.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Margaret 2
Mary 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jemima 1
Margret 1
Martha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Andrew 5
John 3
James 2
Thomas 2
William 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
David 1
Herbert 1
Robert 1
Thos. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Westwater households.

FAQ

Westwater surname: questions and answers

How common was the Westwater surname in 1881?

In 1881, 390 people were recorded with the Westwater surname. That placed it at #8,104 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Westwater surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 589 in 2016. That gives Westwater a modern rank of #8,846.

What does the Westwater surname mean?

An English habitational surname denoting someone who lived to the west of a river or stream.

What does the Westwater map show?

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