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

Wornum, 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 Wornum surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wornum in America

Wornum is the 129825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wornum surname appeared 131 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 Wornum.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wornum 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 Wornum

The surname Wornum is of English origin, likely emerging during the medieval period. Historically, surnames in England began to stabilize around the 11th to 14th centuries, which aligns with the era during which Wornum may have appeared. The exact local origins are somewhat obscure, but it is plausible that the surname could have derived from a geographic location or a descriptive term rooted in Old English.

Wornum could have evolved from an early Old English or Anglo-Saxon term. One theory is that it originated from a locative name, describing someone who hailed from a specific region or landmark. This is common in English surnames, where individuals were often named after their homesteads or places of origin. Examining old spellings and variations such as "Werneham" or "Warnham" might give clues about its evolution.

The surname appears in historical records dating back as early as the 13th century. One of the earliest recorded instances is a John de Wornham, listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. This suggests that the name was already in use by well-established families and possibly tied to land ownership or community leadership in rural England.

In later centuries, the Wornum surname continued to be prominent in historical documents. Notable among them was Ralph Wornum, an individual recorded in London archives in the late 1500s. His descendants continued to influence local trades and guilds within the city.

Among the most famous bearers of the surname was Ralph Nicholson Wornum (1812-1877), who made significant contributions to the arts as an English artist and art historian. His works include significant publications on art theory and numerous patrons, establishing a reputable family name in artistic circles of Victorian England.

Another influential figure was William Wornum, baptized in 1630, who played a key role in local governance in Kent during the turbulent times of the English Civil War, providing insights into local historical narratives of the time.

The name also appears in the 18th century with Edward Wornum (1745-1823), a notable inventor who made contributions to early steam engineering, reflecting the family's involvement in the technological advancements of the period.

In the 20th century, the name continued to leave its mark through figures like Charles Wornum (1895-1977), who served with distinction during World War I and later became a respected author of war memoirs, chronicling the experiences of the Great War generation.

The Wornum surname weaves a rich tapestry of English history, marked by engagements in diverse fields such as governance, art, and engineering. Each bearer has contributed uniquely, reflecting the depth and adaptability of this historic family name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wornum

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

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

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

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