Explore the Family Name Westray
The meaning of Westray
English (Cumberland and Lancashire): habitational name from Westray in Embleton (Cumberland). The placename probably derives from Old Norse vestr ‘west, western’ + vrá ‘nook, corner of land’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Westray in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Westray didn't see much change in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 51,583rd in popularity and slipped slightly to 53,204th place by 2010—a marginal decline of 3.14%. The number of individuals with the Westray surname did increase marginally from 379 to 389 during the same period, reflecting a growth rate of 2.64%. Nevertheless, when viewed as a proportion per 100,000 people, the surname's prevalence dipped by 7.14%, falling from 0.14 to 0.13.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #51,583 | #53,204 | -3.14% |
| Count | 379 | 389 | 2.64% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.14 | 0.13 | -7.14% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Westray
On examining ethnic identity associated with the Westray surname, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates some variation between 2000 and 2010. While the percentage of Westrays identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native remained unchanged at zero, there was a slight increase in those identifying with two or more races—from no recorded percentage in 2000 to 2.57% in 2010. The largest ethnicity group within the Westray surname shifted from white (72.03% in 2000 to 68.64% in 2010) to black (25.59% in 2000 to 25.96% in 2010), while the representation of Hispanic identity rose from none to 1.80%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 72.03% | 68.64% | -4.71% |
| Black | 25.59% | 25.96% | 1.45% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 2.57% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.8% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |