WESTMORLAND
Westmorland
Westmorland is an English surname of locational origin. It is derived from the historic county of Westmorland, which was situated in the North West of England. The county of Westmorland was merged with Cumberland and parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire to form the county of Cumbria in 1974.
The surname Westmorland would have been given to individuals who hailed from this region or had ancestral ties to Westmorland. It is a toponymic surname, a type of surname that is derived from a place name.
The origins of the surname Westmorland can be traced back to medieval times when the naming practice was becoming more formalised. Surnames were often adopted to distinguish between individuals sharing the same given name, and many people chose to take on the name of their birthplace or the place they originated from.
The varied spellings of Westmorland over the centuries reflect the evolution of English language and the way in which names were recorded in historical documents. Individuals bearing the surname Westmorland can be found throughout the United Kingdom and beyond, as people moved and settled in different regions.
Today, the surname Westmorland serves as a link to the rich history and heritage of the county of Westmorland and its people. It carries with it a sense of identity and connection to a specific geographical area, evoking images of the rolling hills and picturesque landscapes of the North West of England.
There are approximately 373 people named Westmorland in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around six in a million people in Britain are named Westmorland.
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- Anthony
- David
- Ian
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Phil
- Robert
Female
- Barbara
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Gail
- Jane
- Joanne
- Julie
- Lesley
- Lisa
- Nicola
- Sarah
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.