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Westhead Family History

Westhead Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Westhead in Lathom (Ormskirk Lancashire). The placename derives from Old English west ‘west western’.

It combines the term hēafod ‘head’ in the sense ‘end of a ridge’.

This indicates a geographical feature that was significant in the naming of the location.

The name reflects the historical and linguistic heritage of the region.

Understanding such names provides insight into the cultural landscape of Lancashire.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Westhead family from?

You can see how Westhead families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Westhead family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Westhead families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 752 Westhead families living in Lancashire. This was about 90% of all the recorded Westhead's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Westhead families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Westhead surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Westhead ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Westhead. 16% of Westhead men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Westhead women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Westhead were Bricklayer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Westhead | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    16%
  • Dock Labourer
    9%
  • Incapacitated
    7%
  • Bricklayer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Domestic Servant
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Westhead family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Westhead. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Westhead census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Westhead

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Westhead. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Westhead immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 779 military records available for the last name Westhead. For the veterans among your Westhead ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Westhead military records

You've only scratched the surface of Westhead family history

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What is the average Westhead lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2004, in the United States, Westhead life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1993, and highest in 1984. The average life expectancy for Westhead in 1964 was 77, and 82 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Westhead

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Westhead ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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