Find out how popular the last name Unsworth is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Unsworth.

Unsworth, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Unsworth surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Unsworth in America

Unsworth is the 25381st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Unsworth surname appeared 975 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Unsworth.

We can also compare 2010 data for Unsworth to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Unsworth

The surname UNSWORTH originates from the northern regions of England, likely Lancashire or Yorkshire, during the 12th or 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "un" meaning a ridge or hill, and "worth" meaning an enclosed settlement or homestead. Thus, the name UNSWORTH would have originally referred to someone who lived near or owned a homestead located on a ridge or hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name UNSWORTH can be found in the Lancashire Inquests of 1310-1333, where a person named Adam de Undesworth is mentioned. The spelling variations during this time included Undesworth, Undysworthe, and Undisworth, reflecting the regional dialects and evolving spellings of the name.

In the 16th century, the Unsworth family was well-established in the area around Bury, Lancashire. Records from this period mention individuals such as John Unsworth (born around 1520) and his son, Richard Unsworth (born around 1560), who were landowners in the region.

The name UNSWORTH can also be found in historical documents related to the English Civil War. One notable figure from this period was Captain James Unsworth (1615-1680), a Royalist officer who fought for King Charles I and later served as a Member of Parliament after the Restoration.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the UNSWORTH name became more widespread across England, with families settling in various counties. One prominent individual was Sir James Unsworth (1768-1846), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was knighted for his services.

Another notable figure was the English poet and playwright Thomas Unsworth (1810-1876), whose works included plays such as "The Bride of Lammermoor" and "The Doom of Destiny." He was born in Bury, Lancashire, where the Unsworth name had its roots.

In the 20th century, the UNSWORTH surname continued to be associated with various fields, including literature and sports. One example is the English novelist and playwright Stanley Unsworth (1911-1976), known for his novels "The Spiral Staircase" and "The Big Chapeau."

The surname UNSWORTH has a rich history rooted in the northern regions of England, originally referring to individuals who lived near a homestead on a ridge or hill. Over the centuries, the name has been carried by notable figures in various domains, reflecting its enduring presence in English society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Unsworth

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Unsworth.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Unsworth was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Unsworth has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Unsworth was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Unsworth, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!