West Family Crest and Surname Origin
A short guide to the West surname: its meaning, its roots in England, and its heraldry.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the West coat of arms for you.
Origin of the West name
West is an English topographic name for someone who lived to the west of a village, or a regional name for a newcomer from the west, from Old English west. Directional bynames were common in medieval England. The surname is widespread across England, particularly the south and the Midlands, and in America.
Our historical archives hold much more on the West name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the West name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Australia and Canada; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full West family history
The researched West pack traces meaning, early bearers and migration routes, and includes a personalized West coat of arms.
West name FAQ
What does the West name mean?
From the west. Common variants include Westman, Western, Weston.
Where does the West surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a West coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single West crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized West coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.