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

Westerfield, 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 Westerfield surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Westerfield in America

Westerfield is the 8753rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Westerfield surname appeared 3,748 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Westerfield.

We can also compare 2010 data for Westerfield 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 Westerfield

The surname Westerfield has its roots in England, originating in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "west" and "feld," meaning "west field" or "western field." This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived or worked on a field located in the western part of a village or town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Westerfield can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Westerfelde." This influential historical record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of land and property ownership in England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show a Johannes de Westerfelde, born around 1220 in Westfield, Norfolk, England. This is one of the earliest known individuals to bear the surname Westerfield.

The name Westerfield has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Westerfield in Suffolk and Westerfield in Yorkshire. These place names likely contributed to the surname's spread and adoption by families residing in those areas.

One notable figure in history bearing the Westerfield surname was Sir Ralph de Westerfield (c. 1300-1370), a prominent English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. He was knighted for his military service and bravery on the battlefield.

Another individual of note was William Westerfield (1564-1636), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Hadleigh in Suffolk. He was known for his theological writings and contributions to the religious discourse of his time.

In the 17th century, John Westerfield (1620-1688) was a successful merchant and landowner in London. He amassed considerable wealth through his trading ventures and became a prominent figure in the city's business community.

Sarah Westerfield (1765-1845), born in Yorkshire, was a pioneering educator in the early 19th century. She established one of the first schools for girls in her region, promoting education and empowerment for women during a time when such opportunities were limited.

Lastly, Henry Westerfield (1870-1954), a native of Lincolnshire, was a renowned architect who designed numerous notable buildings in London and other parts of England. His work left a lasting impact on the architectural landscape of his time.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diversity of individuals who have carried the Westerfield surname throughout the centuries, contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Westerfield

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

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 Westerfield 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 Westerfield 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 Westerfield was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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