2000
#127,186
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 124
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Worona
A surname of Slavic origin, possibly derived from the word "voron" meaning "raven" or "crow."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 125 Americans carry the last name Worona. That puts it at #150,205 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,742,035 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Worona surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
125
1 in 2,742,035
Census rank
#150,205
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
109
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 109 bearers of the surname Worona in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150205th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Worona, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Worona
The surname Worona likely has its origins in Eastern Europe, specifically within the regions that are now Poland and Ukraine. This surname finds its roots in the circa 14th to 15th centuries, a time when surnames were becoming more commonplace among Slavic populations. The name Worona is believed to be derived from the Polish and Ukrainian words “wrona” which means “crow” or “raven.” The adoption of animal names for surnames was a common practice during medieval times, often indicative of characteristics associated with the animal.
The records from the early Middle Ages include various spellings and derivatives, such as Vorona or Wrona, reflecting linguistic nuances of the regions. One of the earliest mentions of a similar name can be found in Polish and Ruthenian records dated back to the 14th century. For instance, a document from 1386 refers to a Jan Wrona, assumed to be from the region of Lesser Poland, known during that era for its thorough chronicling of local families.
Historical references to the surname also appear in 15th-century Ukrainian manuscripts. Notably, a certain Andriy Vorona, born around 1420, is documented in local texts from the Kyiv region. Andriy was noted for being a landowner and a participant in local administrative matters, reflecting the emerging social structure of the time.
Another essential historical figure bearing the surname was Piotr Worona, a Polish noble born in 1550 who served as a minor lord under the Jagiellonian dynasty. His contributions to regional politics were considerable, and records from 1601 indicate his involvement in military campaigns during the Livonian War, reflecting the long-standing martial traditions of Polish nobility.
In the 17th century, Grigoriy Worona made his mark in Ukraine as a Cossack leader. Born in 1625, he was reputed for his valor and tactical ingenuity, contributing significantly to the defense of Ukrainian territories against Polish incursions. Grigoriy’s reputed exploits were detailed in various Cossack chronicles and songs, preserving his legacy in Ukrainian cultural history.
Fast forward to the 19th century, we find another prominent figure, Maria Worona, a noted scholar of Slavic languages, born in 1867 in Western Ukraine. Maria’s contributions to the field of philology were extensive, and she is best remembered for her comparative studies of Ukrainian and Polish dialects. Her works are still referenced in modern linguistic studies for their pioneering insights.
Finally, the 20th century saw the rise of Alexei Worona, a Soviet mathematician born in 1930. His groundbreaking research in the field of algebra earned him a place of respect among his peers. Noteworthy are his numerous papers on mathematical theories, which garnered international attention and facilitated cross-border academic collaborations during the Cold War era.
The surname Worona, rich in history, has spanned centuries, evolving through regions and societies. Each historical reference adds layers to its story, reflecting the diverse cultures and significant contributions of those who bore the name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Worona
Among Census respondents with the surname Worona, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Worona bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Worona surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.7% · 101
- Two or more races2.8% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.8% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.8% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Worona
Worona appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#148,347
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
-13 bearers (-10.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 21,161 places
2020
#150,205
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
-2 bearers (-1.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 1,858 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #127,186 | 124 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #148,347 | 111 | 0.04 | -13 bearers (-10.5%) | Down 21,161 places |
| 2020 | #150,205 | 109 | 0.04 | -2 bearers (-1.8%) | Down 1,858 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Worona surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #148,347 | #150,205 | -1.3% |
| Count | 111 | 109 | -1.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -8.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Worona bearers went from 111 to 109 (-1.8% change). The surname moved down 1,858 positions in the national ranking, going from #148,347 to #150,205.
FAQ
Worona surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Worona?
Name Census estimates that about 125 living Americans carry the surname Worona. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,742,035 residents.
How common is Worona?
Worona ranks #150,205 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 109 people with the surname Worona. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (125), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Worona.
Has Worona become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Worona went from 111 recorded bearers to 109. That is a decrease of 2 (-1.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #148,347 to #150,205.
What does the Census say about the background of Worona?
Among Census respondents with the surname Worona, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Worona in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.7% (101 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Worona appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.7%), Two or More Races (2.8%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Worona (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Worona mean?
A surname of Slavic origin, possibly derived from the word "voron" meaning "raven" or "crow." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Worona (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Worona?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.