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

Westry, 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 Westry surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Westry in America

Westry is the 41164th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Westry surname appeared 529 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 Westry.

We can also compare 2010 data for Westry 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 Westry

The surname Westry is of English origin, with its earliest roots traced back to the 12th century. The name is believed to have originated in the county of Devon, where it was derived from the Old English words "west" and "ree," meaning "western stream" or "western watercourse."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Westry can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Devonshire, dated 1195. This historical record mentions a landowner named William de Westry, who held property near the village of Westry in the parish of Stokenham.

During the Middle Ages, the Westry name was closely associated with the village of the same name, which is now known as West Alvington. This small hamlet lies near the banks of the River Avon, lending credence to the name's connection with a western stream or watercourse.

In the 14th century, the Westry family played a significant role in the local community. Records from the Court of the Manor of Stokenham in 1327 mention a John Westry, who served as a juror for the court. This suggests that the Westry family held a respectable position within the community during that time.

Moving forward to the 16th century, the name Westry appears in the Parish Registers of Stokenham. In 1562, the baptism of Agnes Westry, daughter of Thomas Westry, was recorded. This provides evidence of the name's continued presence in the area.

One notable individual with the surname Westry was Sir Thomas Westry (1567-1644), a wealthy landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the county of Devon. He was known for his support of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.

Another prominent figure was Richard Westry (1712-1788), a renowned botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of flora in the Devon region. His extensive collection of plant specimens is still preserved in the archives of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London.

In the 19th century, the Westry name gained further recognition with the achievements of Elizabeth Westry (1824-1898), a pioneering educator who established one of the first schools for girls in the city of Exeter.

While the surname Westry is not as common today as it once was in its place of origin, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of English family names, carrying with it a history that spans centuries and is deeply rooted in the landscape of Devon.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Westry

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

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

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

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