The village name comes from the title of Charles Kingsley's novel Westward Ho! (1855), which was set in nearby Bideford. The book was a bestseller, and entrepreneurs saw the opportunity to develop tourism in the area. The Northam Burrows Hotel and Villa Building Company, chaired by Lord Portsmouth, was formed in 1863, and its prospectus stated:
Or if you believe their own tourist information website:
Westward Ho! is a picturesque village with a quirky name, sat facing out towards the Atlantic Ocean on the North Devon coast. Born out of a development triggered by the book Westward Ho! written by Charles Kingsley in the mid 1800′s, it grew into a popular holiday destination and remains so today.