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

Westlake, 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 Westlake surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Westlake in America

Westlake is the 11637th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Westlake surname appeared 2,694 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 Westlake.

We can also compare 2010 data for Westlake 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 Westlake

The surname Westlake originates from England and dates back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "west" and "lacu," meaning "west lake" or "western lake." This suggests that the name was likely first borne by someone who lived near a western lake or body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Westlake surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a William de Westlake is mentioned. The "de" prefix indicates that the name was originally a place name before becoming a hereditary surname.

Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Westlake, Westlacke, and Westlack. These variations were influenced by regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

The Westlake surname is also associated with several place names in England, including Westlake in Somerset and Westlake Farm in Gloucestershire. These locations may have been the original homesteads of families bearing the Westlake name.

Notable individuals with the Westlake surname throughout history include:

1. Thomas Westlake (1645-1725), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Torrington in Devon.
2. John Westlake (1828-1913), an English jurist and scholar of international law, who authored several influential works on the subject.
3. Nathaniel Westlake (1833-1921), an English architect who designed numerous buildings in London, including St. Stephen's Church and the Wandsworth Town Hall.
4. Mary Westlake (1858-1924), an English writer and suffragist who campaigned for women's rights and advocated for women's education.
5. Raymond Westlake (1898-1973), a British film director and screenwriter known for his work in the early days of British cinema, including the film "The Ghost Camera" (1933).

While census data and modern records may provide additional information on the prevalence and distribution of the Westlake surname, this report focuses on the historical origins, early recorded instances, and notable individuals bearing the name throughout its long history in England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Westlake

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

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

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

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