Westoll

This is a variant spelling of the Olde English and Anglo-Saxon pre 9th Century "West-haelh", translating as the "dweller at the wet part (of the settlement)". A village called "Westhall" exists in Suffolk, as does Westhall in Aberdeenshire, and it is possible that the name originates from either of these places, or even a now "lost" village. The situation is further complicated by the fact that although the family of Westoll were well known in Durham, James Westoll of Cliffside, Roke, Sunderland being recorded in Kelly's Landed Gentry for 1860, nevertheless the earliest recordings of the name are 16th Century London i.e. Agnes Westall (1541, Westminster). The earliest northern recordings would seem to be George Westoll, christened at Bishop Middleham on December 7th 1760. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Westoll, which was dated July 18th 1706, witness at St. Botolphs Church, Bishopgate, London, during the reign of Queen Anne, "The Last Stuart Monarch", 1702 - 1714. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.