Surname Westrup - Meaning and Origin

Westrup: What does the surname Westrup mean?

The last name Westrup is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English words "west" and "hropp," meaning "western settlement." This was likely a reference to a settlement in the western region of England during the Middle Ages. Westrup may also have been used to refer to individuals who originated from a settlement or area in the west. In particular, the name may have been given to people from Westrup—a location in modern-day Shropshire, England. It is possible that the Westrup surname was originally used to differentiate people who originated from distinct locations in the West Country.

Westrup is a fairly uncommon surname, but its history dates back to the 13th-century. Records show that Elias de Westrup was a bailiff of Ellesmere in 1244. Further records of Westrups in England include Walter de Westrupe in Derbyshire in 1379 and far later occurrences of the surname include the birth of Mary Westrup in 1616 in Hampshire, England.

Over time, the Westrup surname has spread across the world, likely through emigration. Today, Westrup is still a rare surname, but it can be found in countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United States. In these countries, the descendants of those who originally bore the surname have likely integrated it into their culture and lives.

Westrup: Where does the name Westrup come from?

The last name Westrup is most commonly found in the Netherlands, with some instances found in Germany. The surname has been found in records dating back to the Medieval Ages. Its roots can be traced back to ancient Dutch, Nordic, and German origins, with possible ancestor migration originating in the Netherlands and/or Germany.

The Netherlands is still a hot-spot for Westrup families today. The surname is incredibly common in North Holland, South Holland, and Friesland provinces in the Netherlands. It's not as frequent in other areas. However, recently, it has gained more popularity amongst other European countries, such as Germany and Denmark.

It appears that Westrup families are more scattered worldwide than most other last names. Still, Westrup families are most common in the Netherlands and Germany. People with this surname today are likely descendants of Dutch, German, and/or Danish Westrups.

More recently, Westrups have expanded to distant lands, such as Canada, Australia, the United States, and even South Africa. Westrup families have come over all the way from the Netherlands, mostly in the 20th century, towards the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Variations of the surname Westrup

Westrup is a Scandinavian and German surname with its spelling variants including Westroop, Westrop, Westropp, Vestrup, Vastrup, Vestroop, Vestrop, Vestropp, Westerup, Westeroop, and Westeropp. It is common in Denmark and Germany, found mainly in the southern parts of the country.

The original meaning behind this name is 'western piece of land' which refers to settlers who migrated to the west. In Scandinavia, the name is derived from the Old Norse ‘vestra-haup’ which meant ‘west point of land’. It is also closely related to the Dutch ‘westroop’ which means ‘belonging to Westrup’.

Other spellings and surnames of the same origin include Westroe, Veestrup, Vesteroep, Westeroff, Westropf, Vestrof, Vastrof, Vestorf, Wiederkehr, and Vejstrup. The Viking Age bestowed upon Europe a unique period of transition which resulted in the establishment of multiple spelling variants of many names.

Other variants of the surname include Westrope, Wesstroope, Vastroope, Wesstropp, and Westripp, all of which are primarily found in northern Germany and the Netherlands.

The variations of the surname might also be used as Anglicized versions, which may be further modified due to regional dialects and dialectic manipulations in different regions. So it is always advisable to explore different spellings when researching your family's origins.

Famous people with the name Westrup

• David Westrup: a popular British Olympic athlete who won several medals in the men's 200m race in three different Olympic Games.
• Zoe Westrup: former professional tennis player from Australia who was the first ever female player to win the Australian Open three times.
• James Westrup: renowned British film director and screenwriter whose work includes the critically acclaimed "The Lives of Others" and "Carlos".
• John Westrup: a renowned British actor, director and producer best known for his roles in the BBC TV Series "Ashes To Ashes" and "Doc Martin".
• Peter Westrup: popular British DJ and club promoter whose residency was at London's Fabric nightclub for several years.
• Jane Westrup: renowned British author, philanthropist and socialite whose works include the novel "The Invention of Love".
• Michael Westrup: British jazz pianist and composer who has performed with major jazz and blues artists such as Oscar Peterson, Elton John and B.B. King.
• Eleanor Westrup: popular British sculptor and painter whose work chiefly deals with human emotions.
• Naomi Westrup: British model and television presenter who has been featured in numerous international campaigns and on the cover of various magazines.
• Hugo Westrup: British multi-instrumentalist and composer who has written music for several films and television series.

Other surnames

WestrichWestrop