Researching Mae West
Investigate the background of Mae West using the links below. We hope you find this information useful!
![]() | Did you know that in the 1881 UK census there were 28833 people with the West surname? In that year West was ranked number 110 for popularity in the UK. |

The name Mae means "Form of MARY. bitter" and is of Hebrew origin.
Records of Mae West on Ancestry
Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out the detail of Mae West in your family tree. A vast range of data is available to search ranging from census records, births, deaths and marriages, military records and immigration records to name but a few. Free trials are normally available and are a good way to fill out a lot of your tree quickly.
| Country Collection | |
|---|---|
![]() |
Ancestry.com Global records search results for Mae West. |
![]() |
Ancestry.com US records search results for Mae West. |
![]() |
Ancestry.co.uk UK records search results for Mae West. |
![]() |
Ancestry.ca Canadian records search results for Mae West. |
![]() |
Ancestry.com.au Australian records search results for Mae West. |
DNA
Sometimes you can run into a brick wall in your tree and you just don't have enough evidence to make that next step back in time. If you are lucky then you may find some previously undiscovered West ancestors. Additionally, the modern DNA test can give you a breakdown of your ethnic mix - you may be surprised at the results!
Have you reached a brick wall in your West Tree?
Birth, Death and Marriage Records for Mae West and the West Family Tree
Birth, Death and Marriage records are often the best method of making the links to the West Genealogy that will form part of your family tree. Although records vary from country to country, they are normally the most formal record of a person's relations. From the sources below you will be able to find a birth record and, from that, a birth certificate can be ordered which lists the names of the mother and father, taking you back another generation in your tree. A marriage certificate may also list the names of the respective fathers of the bride and groom which may then help you to find them earlier in life on a census record enabling you to fill out more detail in the West family tree.
Check out Parish Records for Mae West at Find My Past.
Investigate for the UK registered births, marriages and deaths of Mae West using the FreeBMD database.
Study Genealogy Bank for Mae West records.
Check out MyHeritage for Mae West information.
Investigate the LDS Database for records about Mae West.
Research the West surname using fold3 Military Archives and view images of original West Military records.
![]() | Did you know that there are currently 37066 people with the West surname in the UK? West is now ranked number 121 for popularity in the UK. |
West Genealogy Databases
Another way to build your tree quickly is to use the research other people have already done. This can help to confirm or refute your own deductions - however, be wary of taking this data at face value as other researchers may not have been as meticulous as you. Always try to back up deductions with some definitive sources rather than relying too heavily on others.
Investigate the WikiTree database for user contributed records for Mae West.
Study MyTrees for information on the West family and people looking to contact living West relations.
Investigate One Great Family for West records submitted by people who are already researching the West Family Tree.
Find Mae West from Ireland on findmypast.ie
West Forums
There are a number of forums which are dedicated to rearching particular surnames. These can be good places to share your findings and also to tap into the knowledge that others may already have. These can sometimes be a good way of finding living relations as these tend not to show up on the other sources of information for privacy reasons.
Research the West surname using Genealogy.com forums .
![]() | Did you know that there are currently 243060 people with the West surname in the USA? West is ranked number 79 for popularity in the USA. |
Miscellaneous West Databases
Look at the Ellis Island Database for information on Mae West. This database contains over 25 million immigration records detailing passengers arriving in the United States of America.
Some Famous People called Mae West
Mae West
Mae West (born Mary Jane West; August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980) was an American stage and film actress, playwright, screenwriter, singer, and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned over seven decades. She was known for her breezy sexual independence, and her lighthearted bawdy double entendres, often delivered in a husky contralto voice. She was active in vaudeville and on stage in New York City before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the film industry.
West was one of the most controversial movie stars of her day; she encountered problems especially with censorship. She once quipped, "I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it." She bucked the system by making comedy out of conventional mores, and the Depression-era audience admired her for it. When her film career ended, she wrote books and plays, and continued to perform in Las Vegas and the United Kingdom, on radio and television, and recorded rock 'n roll albums. In 1999, the American Film Institute posthumously voted West the 15th greatest female screen legend of classic American cinema.
Source: Mae West, Wikipedia, The Free EncyclopediaOther names that sound a bit like West
Family names can get corrupted over time, particularly where literacy was not as good. The following list contains some names that have similar sounds so you may want to also look at one or two of the more likely possibilites.
Wackett Waggatt Waggett Waggitt Waiste Wajda Wasgat Wasgatt Waskett Wasti Wastie Waycot Waycott Weast Wedgewood Wedgwood Weekhoud Weekhout Weicht Weigt Weisguth Wescoat Wescot Wescott Wesgate Westaway Whacket Wickett Wiest Wiget Wiggett Wissett Wistow Wokaty Woodgate Wuest Wycht Wyst





Comments
Looking for information on a Mae West in your family tree? Why not post a question here -