2000
#126,400
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 125
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Worstall
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the worst valley".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 122 Americans carry the last name Worstall. That puts it at #152,339 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,809,462 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Worstall 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
122
1 in 2,809,462
Census rank
#152,339
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
106
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 106 bearers of the surname Worstall in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 152339th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Worstall, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Worstall
The surname Worstall is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to medieval England. It is believed to have originated in the eastern counties of England, notably within Suffolk, Norfolk, and Essex. The name likely derives from a locative origin, suggesting that it was used to denote individuals from a specific place, possibly named after an old word or geographical feature.
The earliest form of Worstall may stem from the Old English elements "weorþ" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement" and "steall" meaning "place" or "position." Over time, these elements combined to form place names, hinting at the occupation or the nature of the landscape where early bearers of the surname resided.
The Domesday Book of 1086, a crucial historical record commissioned by William the Conqueror, does not explicitly mention Worstall, but it does list numerous settlements and places that formed the backdrop for such surnames to emerge. Historical records and medieval manuscripts from the 12th and 13th centuries began documenting names that evolved from place names, suggesting a timeframe for the surname's initial usage.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname is found in the form of 'Worstell' in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, where a John de Worstell is mentioned. This indicates that the name had not only localized itself but also entered official records as a recognized surname.
In subsequent years, variations of the name, including Worcetell and Worstall, appear in various parish registers and legal documents. The name crosses into Kent, with the 16th-century records listing a Thomas Worstall as an estate manager, born in 1542 and noted for his work within the local manorial system.
In the 17th century, the name Worstall is evidenced in maritime records, highlighting a George Worstall, born in 1620, who served as a shipwright in the Royal Dockyards of Chatham. His contributions to naval shipbuilding were significant during the English Civil War period.
Moving further into history, the 18th century showcases another notable individual, Elizabeth Worstall, born in 1743. She played a pivotal role in her community within Norwich, known for her philanthropic efforts during a time of social upheaval and the advent of the Industrial Revolution.
During the 19th century, the name expanded beyond the confines of England. Records show a James Worstall, born in 1810, who emigrated to Australia as a part of the wave of British settlers. His work in developing agricultural practices in New South Wales highlights the global dispersion of the surname.
The surname Worstall, through its evolution and historical mentions, provides a rich tapestry of English heritage and migration. The varying historical references and notable figures bearing the name across centuries highlight its deep-seated origins and enduring presence.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Worstall
Among Census respondents with the surname Worstall, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Worstall 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 Worstall surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.5% · 98
- Hispanic or Latino4.7% · 5
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.9% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Worstall
Worstall 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
#158,432
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
-23 bearers (-18.4%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 32,032 places
2020
#152,339
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
+4 bearers (+3.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 6,093 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #126,400 | 125 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #158,432 | 102 | 0.03 | -23 bearers (-18.4%) | Down 32,032 places |
| 2020 | #152,339 | 106 | 0.04 | +4 bearers (+3.9%) | Up 6,093 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 Worstall 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 | #158,432 | #152,339 | 3.8% |
| Count | 102 | 106 | 3.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 18.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Worstall bearers went from 102 to 106 (+3.9% change). The surname moved up 6,093 positions in the national ranking, going from #158,432 to #152,339.
FAQ
Worstall surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Worstall?
Name Census estimates that about 122 living Americans carry the surname Worstall. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,809,462 residents.
How common is Worstall?
Worstall ranks #152,339 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 106 people with the surname Worstall. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (122), 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 Worstall.
Has Worstall become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Worstall went from 102 recorded bearers to 106. That is an increase of 4 (+3.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #158,432 to #152,339.
What does the Census say about the background of Worstall?
Among Census respondents with the surname Worstall, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%). 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 Worstall in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.5% (98 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Worstall appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.5%), Hispanic (4.7%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%). 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 Worstall (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 Worstall mean?
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the worst valley". 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 Worstall (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 have the surname Worstall?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.