What does the surname West mean?
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Locative, the west of the village, or the man from the west. Every parish had compass points before street numbers: West was the croft toward sunset, the outsider who arrived from the left-hand lane, the field beyond the crossroads.
Where does the West family come from?
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The West family is rooted in South East and East of England, in England. Within that, the name was particularly concentrated in Kent, Surrey, East Sussex and West Sussex. The atlas page for the name records the historical territory it has held over the centuries.
Where did the West family historically hold territory?
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At its greatest historical extent, the West name has been concentrated in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset & Bristol, Dorset & Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and London. The atlas page distinguishes the core territory of the name from this wider historical reach with hatched silhouettes on the map.
Is West a England surname?
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Yes, West is a England surname. Its editorial home in this atlas is England, where the historical territory and family record of the name are concentrated.
How old is the West surname?
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Every parish had compass points before street numbers: West was the croft toward sunset, the outsider who arrived from the left-hand lane, the field beyond the crossroads. European hereditary surnames crystallised broadly between the 12th and 14th centuries, and the West name took its modern form within that long settlement.
What is the West family known for?
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The west. Every parish had compass points before street numbers: West was the croft toward sunset, the outsider who arrived from the left-hand lane, the field beyond the crossroads.
What is the West motto?
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The motto of the West family is "Jour de ma vie", which translates as "Day of my life". Family mottoes were registered with the chief of the name and carried on the heraldic arms and battle-banners.
What does "Jour de ma vie" mean in English?
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"Jour de ma vie" is the motto of the West family. In English it means "Day of my life". The phrase is typically rendered in Latin, though some Highland families carry their motto in Gaelic and some Norman lines in Old French.
Who is the most famous West?
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The best-known bearer of the West name is Rebecca West (1892–1983), writer (born Cicily Isabel Fairfield). Their life and connection to the family are profiled in full on the dedicated champion page.
Where is the West surname found today?
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England is the primary historical home of the West surname. In the modern era, the name is also borne across the wider diaspora, particularly in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where families carry the line of descent from the same England origin recorded on this page.
What does the Clan Rising page for the West family cover?
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The Clan Rising page for the West family covers the meaning of the surname, the historical geography of the name, the family motto, famous bearers of the name and the seat of the head of the family. Each section is linked to the underlying atlas of England so the name can be read in the geography that shaped it.
Who is the head of the West family today?
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The seat for the head of the West family is currently vacant on this register. Clan Rising is rebuilding the chief and family structure for the modern era, and the family page allows readers to claim the seat or pledge to the name.