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

Worster, 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 Worster surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Worster in America

Worster is the 19671st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Worster surname appeared 1,370 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 Worster.

We can also compare 2010 data for Worster 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 Worster

The surname Worster is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is an anglicized form of the name Worcester, which itself is derived from the city of Worcester in Worcestershire. The city's name is rooted in the Old English elements "Weogoran" and "ceaster," meaning "the Roman town of the Weogoran tribe." This connection to a geographic location is typical of many English surnames that arose during the Middle Ages, often indicating the origin or residence of the family.

One of the earliest references to a name closely resembling Worster can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where the city of Worcester is extensively mentioned. Although not directly citing the surname Worster, the Domesday Book provides crucial evidence of the locale's significance, from which the surname likely derived. This makes the surname part of a broader category of locational surnames that emerged in the latter part of the 11th century.

An early recorded instance of the surname Worster appears in the 13th century. Hannibal Worster, a landowner in Worcestershire, is noted in the county records from 1236. His mention offers one of the earliest snapshots of the surname's existence as a family name, signaling the transition from a locational reference to a hereditary surname.

During the 15th century, the name appears in various English rolls and documents. John Worster, born circa 1425 in Worcestershire, held land in the county and appeared in several legal transactions. His position and landownership underscore the local standing of those bearing the surname.

By the 17th century, individuals bearing the surname Worster began to migrate to other parts of the English-speaking world, notably America. Samuel Worster, born around 1640, emigrated to the American colonies and established a family in Massachusetts. His descendants played a role in the early history of what would become the United States, revealing the surname's spread beyond its English roots.

Further evidence of the name's historical depth can be seen with Richard Worster, a notable figure from the 18th century. Born in 1702, Richard was an influential merchant in London, and his business dealings are well-documented in the city’s trade records. This highlights how the Worster name moved beyond its rural beginnings into the urban spheres and higher socio-economic classes.

Another notable figure is Thomas Worster, an architect born in 1765, who contributed significantly to the designs of several prominent buildings in Birmingham. His work and legacy offer a glimpse into the professional evolution of individuals carrying the surname during the Industrial Revolution.

The surname Worster, over the centuries, adapted through various spellings but retained its geographic and locational etymology. Each historical figure—Hannibal, John, Samuel, Richard, and Thomas—reflects a part of this enduring legacy, anchoring the surname firmly in history while illustrating its socio-economic and geographic journeys.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Worster

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

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

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

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