Surname Westkott - Meaning and Origin
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Westkott: What does the surname Westkott mean?
The surname Westkott is of Germanic origin. The name is derived from two distinct elements; “West” which means western and “kott” which is an old Germanic word meaning cottage or small settlement. This suggests that the surname has its origins in settlers who lived in the western portion of a given region.
The Old German words, “West” and “kott” were combined to form the name Westkott. It may have been associated with a particular family's ancestral home, a small settlement near a body of water in a western location. The surname could also have been given to families who inhabited regions in the far west that would have taken a long journey to reach.
Other theories of the origin of Westkott include that it could have been derived from an old Scandinavian given name, Vestrkot. The given name was quite popular in its region, suggesting the possibility that Westkott could be an Americanized version of the Scandinavian name.
Ultimately, the origin of the surname Westkott remains a mystery, but the fact that the name is of Germanic origin is an indication that it could have been associated with distant ancestors who settled in the west.
Order DNA origin analysisWestkott: Where does the name Westkott come from?
The last name Westkott is an uncommon name that has been used primarily by families in Germany. The name is of German origin and it has also been noted as having Dutch roots. It is believed to have derived from a locality known as 'Westcott'. Currently, the surname Westkott can be found in Germany, The Netherlands, the United States, Australia, and parts of South America.
In Germany, the surname is primarily found in the Hesse, Northrhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Bavaria regions. The Netherlands also has a presence of the surname, particularly in the Dutch provinces of South Holland and North Holland.
In the United States, the last name is more scattered, but is mostly found in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, and Maryland. Data from United States census suggest that the surname is most popular in the state of New Jersey, where it was formerly most populous.
Australia similarly has a few occurrences of the name, particularly in the state of New South Wales, and there have been a few cases in South America, where the name may have been adopted by some German immigrants.
Overall, the surname Westkott is most heavily concentrated in Germany and The Netherlands, but can be found on other parts of the world as well. Its roots can be detected in those Germanic countries, and its popularity is slowly growing in other places.
Variations of the surname Westkott
The surname Westkott is a German surname which has been spelt numerous ways over the centuries. It's original spelling was Westkot, and variations on this spelling, such as Westkotz, Westkotte and Westkath, were common by the 19th century. As families moved away, spread out over Europe and America, the surname was also anglicised in other ways, leading to various versions such as Westcott, Westcoth, Westcoat, and Westcout.
Wescott is one of the most common spellings today. This spelling was popularised by the renowned English originator of the surname, Fidelia Westcott, who was recorded as ‘Wescott’ in official documents. Other spellings which were used in the early 20th century were Westcut and Westcutt.
As well as variants, other surnames are also similar to Westkott. Surnames such as Westcot, Westcott, Westcut, Westcutt, Westkoth, Westcoath, Westcout, Westcoat, Wescot, Wescott, and Westcath all have a shared root in Westkott. Moreover, variants of similar spelling such as Westcott, Westcath and Westcoat are widely found in Germany today.
The shared etymology of the above names shows that, although they may appear different, they stem from the same origin and in some cases can be considered interchangeable. The many different spelling variants and similar surnames of Westkott are testament to the power of migration and of time.
Famous people with the name Westkott
- Kim Westkott: an American actress best known for her appearances on Criminal Minds, Two and a Half Men, and Desperate Housewives.
- Joe Westkott: a former National Hockey League (NHL) defenseman, playing nine seasons in the league from 1982 to 1993.
- John Westkott: a former professional ice hockey player who played for the Hartford Whalers of the NHL in the 1980s.
- Eric Westkott: a professional rock guitarist and singer known for his work with the Seattle grunge music scene in the early 90s.
- Dave Westkott: an American rock drummer who played for the 1980s metal band Ratt.
- Clay Westkott: a Canadian theatre and television actor best known for his roles in The Pacifier and Everything You Wanted to Ask.
- Christine Westkott: a British actress best known for her roles in Coronation Street and The Bill.
- Alonzo Westkott: an American football player who played defensive end for the Houston Oilers in the 1960s.
- Michael Westkott: a German author and poet who won the 2012 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis award for his novel Abendland.
- Pat Westkott: an American film and television producer who has produced shows such as 30 Rock and The Newsroom.