Westmoreland

Westmoreland is a toponym and surname used in various parts of the English-speaking world. The name originates from the historic English county of Westmorland, and has been carried to other regions through migration and settlement, taking root in place names and family names alike.

In the United States, Westmoreland commonly appears as the name of counties. Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, is in the southwestern part of the state, with Greensburg as its county seat. Westmoreland County, Virginia lies on the Northern Neck, with Montross as its county seat. These counties are part of the broader pattern of Anglo-American naming that drew on English geographic terms.

Westmoreland also appears in Jamaica as Westmoreland Parish, one of the country’s fourteen parishes. It is situated on the western side of the island, with Savanna-la-Mar serving as the main town and service center. The parish is part of Jamaica’s administrative division system and is known for its coastal and rural landscapes.

As a surname, Westmoreland is of English origin and has been borne by various individuals, including notable military and public figures. The most widely recognized is William Westmoreland (1914–2005), a United States Army general who commanded U.S. forces in the Vietnam War.

See also Westmorland for variants of spelling and related place names derived from the same historical region in England. The form Westmoreland is a common American adaptation of that name in contemporary usage.