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Westby Family History

Westby Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from any of various places called Westby, for example in Lancashire, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire, all named with Old Norse vestr ‘west, western’ + bý ‘farmstead, village’. Norwegian: habitational name from any of twenty or more farmsteads mainly in southeastern Norway, named in Old Norse as Vestbýr, a compound Old Norse vestr ‘west’ + býr ‘settlement’.

Compare 1 above. Swedish: habitational or ornamental name of the same etymology as 2 above.

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


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Where is the Westby family from?

You can see how Westby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Westby family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Westby families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 100 Westby families living in Lancashire. This was about 31% of all the recorded Westby's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Westby families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Westby 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 Westby ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Westby. 18% of Westby men worked as a Bricklayer and 69% of Westby women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Westby were Insurance Clerk and Private Means.

View Census Data for Westby | 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

  • Bricklayer
    18%
  • Foreman Bricklayer
    12%
  • Iron Dresser Heavy Worker
    12%
  • Insurance Clerk
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Cotton Weaver
    5%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%

What Westby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 10,000 census records available for the last name Westby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Westby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Westby

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Westby. 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 Westby immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Westby. For the veterans among your Westby ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Westby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Westby family history

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What is the average Westby lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Westby life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Westby in 1955 was 59, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Westby

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Westby 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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