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

Worthing, 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 Worthing surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Worthing in America

Worthing is the 28587th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Worthing surname appeared 834 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 Worthing.

We can also compare 2010 data for Worthing 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 Worthing

The surname Worthing finds its origins in England, and its earliest roots can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It is believed to derive from a place name, specifically the town of Worthing in the county of West Sussex. The name itself is thought to come from the Old English word "worth," meaning an enclosed settlement or homestead, combined with "ingas," meaning people or followers — together suggesting "the settlement of the people living at or near the enclosure."

Old records reflect the historical evolution of the surname. In the Domesday Book of 1086, the place name Worthing appeared as "Ordinges." Over time, the spelling and pronunciation evolved to the modern form. The surname likely emerged from individuals who lived in or hailed from this locale, adopting Worthing as an identifier of origin.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname in historical documents appears in the 13th century. William de Worthing is noted in English records from 1273, representing an early bearer of this surname. The "de" suffix typically signaled a geographical origin during this period, reinforcing the connection to the town of Worthing.

Another significant historical figure bearing the surname is John Worthing, recorded in the mid-16th century. John was a yeoman from Sussex, living during the reign of Elizabeth I. His records provide evidence of the surname's continued presence and its status among the local gentry and commoners alike.

In the 17th century, Richard Worthing emerged as a notable figure in English history. Born in 1620 and living through the turbulent times of the English Civil War, Richard was known for his loyalty to the Crown. His contributions are documented in various local histories, highlighting the prominence of the Worthing name during this period.

Moving to the 18th century, Thomas Worthing, born in 1754, is another noteworthy individual. A landowner and merchant, Thomas's activities are well-documented in business records and land registries, reflecting the family's continued social standing and economic contributions.

In the 19th century, Samuel Worthing stands out. Born in 1821, Samuel was an early industrialist involved in textile manufacturing in the northern regions of England. His innovations and business acumen are cited in historical accounts of the Industrial Revolution, marking his impact on the economic landscape.

These historical instances underline the long-standing presence and influence of the surname Worthing in English history, tracing its lineage from medieval geographic roots to notable figures across several centuries, each contributing to its rich historical tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Worthing

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!