2010
#152,628
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Worship
A surname denoting someone whose ancestors worked as a minister or priest.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 130 Americans carry the last name Worship. That puts it at #147,221 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,636,572 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Worship 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Worship with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
130
1 in 2,636,572
Census rank
#147,221
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
113
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 113 bearers of the surname Worship in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147221st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Worship, the largest self-reported group is Black at 89.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.1%) and White (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Worship
The surname Worship is of English origin, emerging during the medieval period. It primarily hails from the southern and eastern parts of England. The name is thought to derive from the Old English word "weorðscipe," which means "worthiness" or "honor." This word is a combination of "weorð," meaning "worthy," and "scipe," a suffix indicating quality or condition, essentially translating to "worthship."
Old records show the presence of the name in written form as early as the 13th century. One of the earliest documented references to the surname can be found in county records from Suffolk around 1273, where a James Worship was recorded. By this time, the name was well-established in the local communities, particularly among individuals holding certain social standings or reputations for their honorability.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, various spellings such as Wurship and Worcshyp appeared in manuscripts and legal documents. For instance, a Robert Worship was listed in the Poll Tax returns of Yorkshire in 1379, indicating the widespread geographical distribution of the name by this period. The diffusion of the name can be linked to the mobility of families and the social dynamics of medieval England.
In the 16th century, the name Worship further solidified its presence in historical records. One notable figure is Thomas Worship, who lived in the early 1500s, documented in the wills and probate records of London. His prominence was highlighted by his detailed testament, revealing his considerable estate and social influence. This period also saw the shift from regional spellings to a more standardized form.
Another significant individual was John Worship, recorded in Chester in the late 17th century. His involvement in local governance and public service illustrates the continued association of the name with positions of respect and duty. His descendants maintained the surname, carrying forward its historical legacy into subsequent generations.
Several members of the Worship family gained recognition in various fields over the centuries. Edward Worship, an 18th-century clergyman, made contributions to religious and educational reforms. Elizabeth Worship, born in the 1730s, became known for her philanthropic activities in northern England, supporting numerous charitable causes.
In summary, the surname Worship has a rich history rooted in the concept of honor and worthiness. Its appearance in medieval records, along with the social standing of individuals like James Worship, Thomas Worship, John Worship, Edward Worship, and Elizabeth Worship, reflects the enduring legacy of the name across centuries. The surname continues to symbolize respect and integrity within its historical context.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Worship
Among Census respondents with the surname Worship, the largest self-reported group is Black at 89.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.1%) and White (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Worship 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 Worship surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American89.4% · 101
- Two or more races7.1% · 8
- White2.7% · 3
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Worship
Worship appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#147,221
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
+6 bearers (+5.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 5,407 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #152,628 | 107 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #147,221 | 113 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.6%) | Up 5,407 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 Worship 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 | #152,628 | #147,221 | 3.5% |
| Count | 107 | 113 | 5.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -5.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Worship bearers went from 107 to 113 (+5.6% change). The surname moved up 5,407 positions in the national ranking, going from #152,628 to #147,221.
FAQ
Worship surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Worship?
Name Census estimates that about 130 living Americans carry the surname Worship. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,636,572 residents.
How common is Worship?
Worship ranks #147,221 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 113 people with the surname Worship. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (130), 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 Worship.
Has Worship become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Worship went from 107 recorded bearers to 113. That is an increase of 6 (+5.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #152,628 to #147,221.
What does the Census say about the background of Worship?
Among Census respondents with the surname Worship, the largest self-reported group is Black at 89.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (7.1%) and White (2.7%). 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?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Worship in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.4% (101 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Worship appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (89.4%), Two or More Races (7.1%), White (2.7%). 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 Worship (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 Worship mean?
A surname denoting someone whose ancestors worked as a minister or priest. 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 Worship (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 people share the surname Worship?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.