West Family History
West Name Meaning
English and German: from Middle English, Middle High German west ‘west’, hence a topographic name for someone who lived to the west of a settlement, or a habitational name for someone who had migrated from further west.
Americanized form of Finnish Vesterinen: from the personal name Vesteri (a short form of Sylvester ) + the surname suffix -nen.
History: This name was brought to North America independently by many bearers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Thomas West, 12th Baron De La Warre, was captain general of Virginia in 1610–11. The state of DE is named for him. One of the earliest permanent settlers was Francis West (1606–92), who came to Duxbury, MA, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, in or before 1638.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
West is most likely found in:
United States
171,217 people in Family Tree
England
85,123 people in Family Tree
Canada
5,100 people in Family Tree
We found 4,812,146 records for the West last name
Explore historical collections, such as birth records, death certificates, immigration data, and more about the West family.
Discover the life stories of ancestors in the West family tree
What West family records will you find?
Search for another last name
Access FamilySearch
FamilySearch helps you explore your heritage, discover ancestors, and connect with your family’s rich history.