2000
#2,848
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 11,563
First available Census row
Per 100,000 4.29
Uncommon Last name
Farnsworth
From an English place name meaning "fern enclosure" or "enclosure among the ferns."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 13,774 Americans carry the last name Farnsworth. That puts it at #2,930 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 4.02 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 24,884 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Farnsworth surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Farnsworth with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
14K
1 in 24,884
Census rank
#2,930
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
12K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 12,012 bearers of the surname Farnsworth in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 4.02 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2930th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Farnsworth, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.7%) and Two or More Races (3.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Farnsworth
The surname Farnsworth originated in England, specifically in the county of Yorkshire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "fearn" meaning fern and "worth" meaning an enclosed settlement or farm. This suggests that the name likely referred to a person who lived near a fern-covered enclosure or farm.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Farnsworth can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Farneswurthe," indicating its long-standing presence in the region.
The Farnsworth family has a rich history, with notable members appearing in various records throughout the centuries. One such individual was Sir Thomas Farnsworth, a prominent landowner and military commander who lived in the 16th century. He played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses, supporting the House of Lancaster.
Another notable figure was John Farnsworth, born in 1616, who was one of the early settlers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He is believed to have arrived in America in the late 1630s and became a respected member of the community in Groton, Massachusetts.
In the 18th century, Benjamin Farnsworth, born in 1754, served as a soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Saratoga, and his bravery and dedication were widely recognized.
The 19th century saw the rise of Isaac Farnsworth, born in 1808, who was a successful businessman and inventor. He is credited with developing several innovative farming implements, including an early version of the modern hay rake.
Moving into the 20th century, Philo T. Farnsworth, born in 1906, made a significant contribution to the world of technology. He is best known for his pioneering work in the development of the electronic television system, earning him the title of "the father of electronic television."
These are just a few examples of notable individuals with the surname Farnsworth, highlighting the rich history and diverse accomplishments associated with this name throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Farnsworth
Among Census respondents with the surname Farnsworth, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.7%) and Two or More Races (3.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Farnsworth bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Farnsworth surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.5% · 10,990
- Hispanic or Latino3.7% · 443
- Two or more races3.3% · 397
- Black or African American0.6% · 69
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 69
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 44
Timeline
Historical Census data for Farnsworth
Farnsworth appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#2,939
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 12,203
+640 bearers (+5.5%)
Per 100,000 4.14
Rank movement Down 91 places
2020
#2,930
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 12,012
-191 bearers (-1.6%)
Per 100,000 4.02
Rank movement Up 9 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #2,848 | 11,563 | 4.29 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #2,939 | 12,203 | 4.14 | +640 bearers (+5.5%) | Down 91 places |
| 2020 | #2,930 | 12,012 | 4.02 | -191 bearers (-1.6%) | Up 9 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Farnsworth surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,939 | #2,930 | 0.3% |
| Count | 12,203 | 12,012 | -1.6% |
| Per 100K | 4.14 | 4.02 | -2.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Farnsworth bearers went from 12,203 to 12,012 (-1.6% change). The surname moved up 9 positions in the national ranking, going from #2,939 to #2,930.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Farnsworth
FAQ
Farnsworth surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Farnsworth?
Name Census estimates that about 13,774 living Americans carry the surname Farnsworth. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 24,884 residents.
How common is Farnsworth?
Farnsworth ranks #2,930 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 4.02 per 100,000 residents, which is about 4 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 12,012 people with the surname Farnsworth. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (13,774), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 4.02 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 4.02 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 4 of them to have the surname Farnsworth.
Has Farnsworth become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Farnsworth went from 12,203 recorded bearers to 12,012. That is a decrease of 191 (-1.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #2,939 to #2,930.
What does the Census say about the background of Farnsworth?
Among Census respondents with the surname Farnsworth, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.7%) and Two or More Races (3.3%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Farnsworth in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.5% (10,990 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Farnsworth appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.5%), Hispanic (3.7%), Two or More Races (3.3%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Farnsworth (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Farnsworth mean?
From an English place name meaning "fern enclosure" or "enclosure among the ferns." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Farnsworth (4.02 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Farnsworth?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.