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

Workman, 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 Workman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Workman in America

Workman is the 1097th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Workman surname appeared 31,856 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 11 people would have the surname Workman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Workman 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 Workman

The surname WORKMAN is of English and Scottish origin, derived from the occupational term "workman," which referred to a skilled artisan or craftsman. It emerged during the Middle Ages, a period when hereditary surnames were beginning to be adopted.

The name WORKMAN first appeared in the English counties of Northumberland, Durham, and Yorkshire, as well as in Scotland, particularly in the Borders region. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "worc" or "wyrce," meaning "work" or "labor."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the WORKMAN surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where a certain Walter Workeman is mentioned. Other early records include the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which lists a William le Workman.

The WORKMAN name has been associated with various trades and professions throughout history. For instance, William Workman (1605-1677) was a prominent English writer and translator, known for his translations of several works by Spanish authors.

Another notable figure was Benjamin Workman (1819-1900), a Canadian businessman and philanthropist who founded the town of Côte Saint-Luc in Quebec. He was also involved in the establishment of several educational institutions, including McGill University.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the WORKMAN surname dates back to the 17th century, when John Workman (1619-1684) emigrated from England and settled in Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York.

The WORKMAN name has also been connected to several place names, such as Workman's Field in Nottinghamshire, England, and Workman's Village in Ontario, Canada, which was established in the early 19th century by a family of that name.

Other notable individuals with the WORKMAN surname include James Workman (1808-1888), a British architect known for his work on medieval churches and cathedrals, and David Workman (1916-2007), an American artist and sculptor recognized for his abstract expressionist works.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Workman

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

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

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

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