Surname Westbrooke - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Westbrooke: What does the surname Westbrooke mean?
Westbrooke is an English patronymic surname derived from the elements ‘west’ and ‘brooke’. The name Westbrooke stems from the Old English words meaning ‘of the west stream’. Historically, the Westbrooke surname has been associated with people who lived near or along a stream that ran to the west. It is possible that the place-name itself was derived from a family name at some point.
In some cases, the Westbrooke surname was acquired by individuals when they moved to the region. The Westbrooke surname has been found in England since at least the 16th century. During this time, the Westbrooke family was popular in Yorkshire and Lancashire counties in the northern part of England. The Westbrooke name is also recorded in the United States from the 17th century.
The Westbrooke surname has spread throughout the English-speaking world, and is now found in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Today, the Westbrooke surname continues to represent a connection to a place of origin, and to those who lived there. It is a reminder of those who lived near a stream in the west, and of their journey to far-off lands.
Order DNA origin analysisWestbrooke: Where does the name Westbrooke come from?
The last name Westbrooke is most common in England and Wales. It is particularly prevalent in the South West of England and the South East of Wales. It is also found in North America, particularly the United States and Canada, as well as Australia and parts of Europe including Ireland.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname is believed to have been that of Willelmus Westbroke in 1259, from Northern England. The surname is thought to derive from a location, where it is thought that an early version of the name may have been "Westbrook", meaning "west brook" or small stream.
The distribution of surname in the United Kingdom today shows that Westbrooke has retained some degree of regional variation. It is more frequent in the areas around its place of origin, such as Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, and Devon.
In the United States, Westbrooke is concentrated in the South and East coasts as well as states such as Texas and California. It is also found in other places inhabited by those who have emigrated from the United Kingdom.
In Canada, Westbrooke is found primarily in Ontario and British Columbia, reflecting a higher rate of immigration from the United Kingdom. In Australia, it is present in all of the major population centres, but is more common on the Eastern seaboard, around Sydney and Melbourne.
Overall, Westbrooke is a relatively uncommon surname today, but is steadily increasing in popularity. It has gained popularity in North America and Australia as a result of migration, and it has retained some regional variation around its place of origin in England and Wales.
Variations of the surname Westbrooke
The Westbrooke surname has various variants, spellings and surnames derived from a similar etymology. The primary variants are Westbrooke, Westbrouk, Westbrock, Westbroke, Westbrook, Westbrok, Westbrock, Westbruck and Westbruch.
Westbrooke is a British surname that likely originated from an Olde English place name that incorporated "West" (meaning "west") and "broc" (meaning a brook). Over time, the name has changed in spelling and pronunciation as people moved around the world.
Westbrouk is a variant of Westbrooke, derived from a Dutch spelling of the name. It is typically spelled Westbuijke, however the spelling often changed in accordance to the pronunciation of the name in different regions.
Westbrock originated from a different Olde English spelling of "westbroc". This variant is most commonly found in the United States, however other spellings such as "Westbroke" (from the Irish broc) and "Westbrook" (from a similar German spelling of the name) can be found in various parts of the world.
Westbruck is also a variant of Westbrooke, this time derived from an Olde English place name that incorporated the words "brúc" (meaning a bridge) and "West" (meaning west). This variant of the name is found in West Bromwich, England as well as several other parts of the world.
Finally, Westbruch is a slightly different spelling of Westbrock. This variant is sometimes found in Germany and other European countries, as well as in the United States.
Overall, the Westbrooke surname is found all over the world, often spelled slightly differently depending on region. The variants of the Westbrooke surname cover a broad range of spellings and strains, and are proof of the family's global reach.
Famous people with the name Westbrooke
- Dorit Kemsley: an American television personality, a cast member of the reality television series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
- Caitlyn Westbrooke: an Australian actress who grew up in Perth and made her breakout debut in the short film, Perception, produced by Brouhaha Film.
- Daisy Westbrooke: an English actress best known for her role in the 2020 film High Rise.
- Lily Westbrooke: an English actress best known for her role in the 2017 romantic comedy, A Simple Favour.
- Lawrence Westbrooke: an English actor, best known for his role as Alec Fairchild in the BBC show Years and Years.
- Felicity Westbrooke: an actress, best known for her role in the 2016 drama film, Love in the Midst of War.
- Nathan Westbrooke: an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work on Ariana Grande's No Tears Left to Cry.
- Jonathan Westbrooke: an English actor, best known for his role in the miniseries Quatermass.
- Anna Westbrooke: an American actress, best known for her roles in the films Addicted and Redemption in Blood.
- Geoffrey Westbrooke: an English writer and director, best known for his work on the film The Quiet Nights.