Message: "Westenra" - Behind the Name

[Surname] Westenra

by Elinor (Elly747)

1/13/2007, 11:38 AM

Does anyone know the origin of Westenra, as borne by the singer Hayley Westenra and the character Lucy Westenra in The Importance of Being Earnest. Thanks in advance.

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♥Elinor♥

#Westenra

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- Peter T (guest) +1

4/30/2007, 12:34 AM

The Westenra family (Hayley W's family roots) comes from two Dutch merchants (Derrick and Warner) that bought rather sizeable tracts of land in county Monaghan in Ireland. They became naturalized citizens in 1661 and later a descendant married into the Peerage becoming Baron Rossmore. As far as the name itself, I have read that they originated from a town called Wassenburg. On the other hand the Dutch surname Wassenaar also sounds similar...

Hope this helps a little...

Peter T.

- Jim Young (guest)

5/1/2007, 11:43 AM

So nothing to do with west?

- Jim Ezell (guest) +1

1/14/2007, 1:02 PM

Elinor,

I believe Lucy Westenra was a character in "Dracula" by Bram Stoker, and not in the Wilde work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Westenra

I have always been intrigued by that surname as well.

- Elinor (Elly747)

1/14/2007, 2:05 PM

Oh gosh. You're completely right. All the Christmas TV is mangled in my head - both "The Importance of Being Earnest" and the latest version of Dracula were shown here recently.

- Jim Young (guest) +1

1/14/2007, 7:41 AM

Apparently the name is not English, which I assumed it was

http://www.northpennineancestors.co.uk/OurSurnamesWXYZ.htm

Whatever the origin "west is west" (Kipling), so Westenra is almost certainly locative.

- Elinor (Elly747)

1/14/2007, 9:59 AM

Thank you so much :-)

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