Ellsworth
From an English place name meaning "Elli's enclosure," derived from the Old English personal name "Elli" and "worth" (enclosure).
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 16,041 Americans carry the last name Ellsworth. That puts it at #2,611 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 4.68 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 21,367 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ellsworth surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
16K
1 in 21,367
Census rank
#2,611
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
14K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 13,813 bearers of the surname Ellsworth in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 4.68 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2611th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ellsworth, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Black (3.3%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ellsworth
The surname Ellsworth is of English origin, derived from a place name meaning "Ella's worth" or "Ella's farm." It dates back to the Anglo-Saxon era, around the 5th to 11th centuries. The name originated in various parts of England, including Norfolk, Gloucestershire, and Yorkshire.
One of the earliest known records of the name Ellsworth can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears spelled as "Elleswurthe" and is associated with landowners in Norfolk and Gloucestershire.
In the 13th century, the name Ellsworth was recorded in various forms, such as "Ellesworth," "Elsworth," and "Elleswurthe." These variations reflect the evolution of the English language and local dialects over time.
Notable individuals with the surname Ellsworth throughout history include:
1. Oliver Ellsworth (1745-1807), an American lawyer, politician, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He served as the third Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
2. Henry Leavitt Ellsworth (1791-1858), an American lawyer, politician, and the first Commissioner of the U.S. Patent Office, serving from 1835 to 1845.
3. Elmer Ellsworth (1837-1861), a Union officer and the first officer to be killed in the American Civil War. He was also a friend of President Abraham Lincoln.
4. Lincoln Ellsworth (1880-1951), an American explorer, aviator, and polar scientist. He was the first person to fly across the Antarctic continent in 1935.
5. Robert Ellsworth (1923-2021), an American diplomat and art collector, known for his extensive collection of Asian art, particularly Chinese sculptures and ceramics.
The name Ellsworth has also been associated with various place names in the United States, such as Ellsworth, Maine, and Ellsworth County in Kansas, likely named after early settlers with the surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ellsworth
Among Census respondents with the surname Ellsworth, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Black (3.3%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Ellsworth bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Ellsworth surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.8%
- Black or African American3.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Two or more races1.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Ellsworth surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,611 | #2,611 | 0.0% |
| Count | 13,813 | 13,813 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 4.68 | 4.68 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Ellsworth bearers went from 13,813 to 13,813 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #2,611 to #2,611.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Ellsworth
FAQ
Ellsworth surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Ellsworth?
The surname Ellsworth holds position #2,611 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 16,041 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 4.68 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Ellsworth surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ellsworth, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.8%. The next largest groups are Black (3.3%) and Hispanic (2.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.