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

Westover, 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 Westover surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Westover in America

Westover is the 7071st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Westover surname appeared 4,734 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Westover.

We can also compare 2010 data for Westover 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 Westover

The surname Westover has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the Old English words "west" meaning west and "ofer" meaning a ridge or hill, suggesting that the name was likely given to someone who lived near or by a western ridge or hill.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Westover can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Westovre" in this historic document.

During the 13th century, variations of the name such as "Westoure" and "Westofer" began to appear in various records and manuscripts. It is believed that the name may have originated in the counties of Hampshire or Wiltshire, where there are places called Westover or Westover Park.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Westover was Sir John Westover (c. 1300-1370), a prominent landowner and knight from Hampshire. Another notable figure was William Westover (c. 1450-1520), a merchant and alderman in the city of London.

In the 16th century, the name Westover was sometimes spelled as "Westovere" or "Westouer." During this period, a notable bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Westover (c. 1520-1585), a member of the English Parliament and a supporter of the Protestant Reformation.

Moving into the 17th century, the surname Westover continued to be associated with notable individuals. One example is Robert Westover (1590-1655), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

Another significant figure was John Westover (1625-1692), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Wiltshire. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and for establishing a school in the town of Westover.

As the name Westover spread across England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the American colonies. One notable bearer of the name in America was Benjamin Westover (1720-1790), a soldier and surveyor who fought in the French and Indian War.

While the surname Westover may not be as widespread as some other English surnames, it has a rich history and has been borne by many notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Westover

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

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

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

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