Find out how popular the last name Westall is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Westall.

Westall, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Westall surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Westall in America

Westall is the 27042nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Westall surname appeared 896 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Westall.

We can also compare 2010 data for Westall to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Westall

The surname Westall is of English origin and is a locational name derived from a place called Westall, which was located in either Yorkshire or Lancashire. The name itself is composed of the Old English words "west" meaning "west" and "halh" meaning "a nook or remote valley."

The earliest recorded instance of the surname dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared as "de Westhale" in the Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219. This early spelling suggests that the name originally referred to someone who hailed from the western part of a remote valley or nook.

In the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273, the name was recorded as "Westenhal," further reinforcing its locational origins. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296 included the entry "Johanne de Westale," showcasing another variation of the surname.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert de Westall, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1349. This record provides evidence of the surname's continued use in the northern counties of England during the Middle Ages.

Notable individuals with the surname Westall include:

1. William Westall (1781-1850), an English landscape painter and illustrator who accompanied Captain Matthew Flinders on his voyages to Australia and was known for his depictions of Australian scenery.

2. Richard Westall (1765-1836), an English painter and engraver, known for his book illustrations and portraits, including those of Lord Nelson and other naval figures.

3. John Westall (1568-1631), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Bishop of Bristol from 1628 until his death.

4. Roger Westall (c. 1530-1590), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Andover in 1563 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

5. Robert Westall (1945-1993), a British author and teacher renowned for his children's and young adult fiction, including the award-winning novel "The Machine Gunners."

While the surname Westall has its origins in the northern counties of England, it has since spread throughout the country and beyond, with bearers of the name found in various parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Westall

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Westall.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Westall was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Westall has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Westall was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Westall, please contact us.

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