The name Westwood is historically rich, originating from traditional English locational and topographical roots where families settled near western woodlands. In modern corporate and geographic contexts, the history of Westwood spans several major entities, including the founding of the affluent Los Angeles neighborhood in the early twentieth century, the establishment of the prestigious Vivienne Westwood fashion empire during the rebellious punk era of 1970s London, and the rise of specialized financial and engineering enterprises bearing the name.