Find out how popular the last name Working is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Working.
A surname derived from an occupational name for a laborer or worker.
Working, 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 Working surname is from the 2010 census data.
Working is the 41959th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Working surname appeared 518 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 Working.
We can also compare 2010 data for Working 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.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 41959 | 40690 | 3.07% |
| Count | 518 | 506 | 2.34% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.18 | 0.19 | -5.41% |
The surname Working has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. This name is believed to have originated from the Anglo-Saxon word "weorc," which means "work," and the suffix "-ing," which was commonly used to denote people associated with a particular activity or place. The name was likely used to describe individuals who were laborers or craftsmen.
Early references to the surname can be traced to historical records from the 12th and 13th centuries. One of the earliest examples is found in a record from 1260, where a John de Werking appears in the Pipe Rolls of Essex. The use of "de" before the surname suggests that John was associated with a place called Werking, though this place has not been conclusively identified in modern times.
By the 14th century, the surname Working appears in various forms, including Workinge and Warkinge. In 1358, a William Workinge is mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Kent. This variation highlights the fluidity of spelling during this period, influenced by local dialects and the lack of standardized spelling.
The name Working also appears in literary references. In Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," written in the late 14th century, there is a character known as John Working, who is described as a diligent and hardworking man. This fictional representation suggests the name was well-known and associated with the virtue of hard work.
Throughout history, several notable individuals bore the surname Working. Thomas Working, born in 1482, served as a master mason during the construction of King's College Chapel in Cambridge, England. His skilled craftsmanship earned him recognition and contributed to the chapel's grandeur.
In the 1600s, Richard Working was a prominent merchant and shipowner in Bristol. Born in 1610, he played a significant role in the maritime trade and was known for his business acumen. His ventures helped to establish Bristol as a key port city during the early development of England's naval and commercial dominance.
Moving forward to the 19th century, Henry Working (1821-1889) was an influential industrialist during the peak of the Industrial Revolution. His innovations in textile manufacturing processes in Manchester contributed significantly to the industry, earning him a notable place in business history.
In the 20th century, Elizabeth Working became a renowned archaeologist, specializing in Anglo-Saxon history. Born in 1915, her groundbreaking discoveries and publications provided a deeper understanding of early English culture and heritage. Her work remains influential among historians and archaeologists.
Lastly, in the early 18th century, a Samuel Working was documented as a participant in the Jacobite uprisings. Born in 1690, he was a fervent supporter of the Stuart claim to the British throne. Samuel's involvement in these historical conflicts highlights the dynamic and sometimes tumultuous lives of those bearing the surname.
Overall, the surname Working has a rich history rooted in medieval England, evolving through various spellings and borne by individuals who made their mark in diverse fields.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Working.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Working was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 94.79% | 491 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 3.67% | 19 |
| Hispanic Origin | (S)% | (S) |
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 Working has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.79% | 95.06% | -0.28% |
| Black | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | (S)% | 1.19% | (S)% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | 3.67% | 1.58% | 79.62% |
| Hispanic | (S)% | 1.58% | (S)% |
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 Working was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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