The unwieldy name Westmoreland was a one-hit wonder in the U.S. baby name data in 1917:
- 1919: unlisted
- 1918: unlisted
- 1917: 6 baby boys named Westmoreland [debut]
- 1916: unlisted
- 1915: unlisted
Why?
Because that’s the year Westmoreland Delaware “Morely” Davis was elected 48th Governor of Virginia.
But the early SSA data only accounted for a portion of the U.S. population, so the actual number of Westmorelands born that year is higher. For instance, according to records I’ve seen, at least 7 Westmorelands were born in Virginia alone in 1917:
- Westmoreland Ackiss
- Westmoreland D. Byiers
- Westmoreland Davis Duncan
- Westmoreland D. Eastwood
- Westmoreland Snead
- Westmoreland Swann
- Westmoreland D. Wynkoop
(I especially like the well-balanced “Westmoreland Eastwood.” Even better, Westmoreland Snead’s father’s name was Grievous: “Grievous Snead.”)
Source: Westmoreland Delaware Davis – Dictionary of Virginia Biography