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

Wardsworth, 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 Wardsworth surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wardsworth in America

Wardsworth is the 110286th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wardsworth surname appeared 160 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 Wardsworth.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wardsworth 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 Wardsworth

The surname Wardsworth is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely in the 9th or 10th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "weard" meaning "watchman" or "guardian" and "worth" meaning "enclosure" or "farm." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked as a watchman or guard on a farm or estate.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wardsworth can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and wealth in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry lists a "Wardeswurtha" as the owner of a small parcel of land in the county of Gloucestershire.

Over the centuries, the name underwent various spellings, such as Wardesworth, Wardsworthe, and Wordsworth, before settling into its modern form. One notable bearer of the name was the renowned English Romantic poet William Wordsworth (1770-1850), whose works celebrated the beauty of nature and the human experience. His birthplace in Cumbria was known as Wordsworth House, and his legacy has contributed significantly to the recognition of the name.

Another notable figure was Sir John Wardsworth (1594-1666), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the English Civil War. He played a pivotal role in the negotiations between King Charles I and Parliament, advocating for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

In the 18th century, Robert Wardsworth (1719-1788) was a successful merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol, known for his philanthropic endeavors and support of local charities.

The name Wardsworth can also be traced to the village of Wardsworth in Derbyshire, which may have been the original location from which the surname derived. Records from the 14th century mention the village as "Wardesworth," suggesting a longstanding connection between the place name and the surname.

While the Wardsworth name is not as common today as some other English surnames, it has a rich history spanning centuries, with bearers who have made significant contributions in various fields, from literature and politics to business and philanthropy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wardsworth

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

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 Wardsworth 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 Wardsworth 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 Wardsworth was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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