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

Worthington, 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 Worthington surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Worthington in America

Worthington is the 2503rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Worthington surname appeared 14,452 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Worthington.

We can also compare 2010 data for Worthington 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 Worthington

The surname Worthington is of English origin, derived from the place name Worthington, which is found in several counties across England. The name has its roots in the Old English words "worð" meaning "enclosure" or "estate" and "tun" meaning "farm" or "settlement." The combination of these two words suggests that the name likely referred to a settlement or farmstead within an enclosed area or estate.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Worthington can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Werthinton" and "Uuordinctun." This ancient record provides evidence of the name's existence and its connection to specific locations during the Norman Conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Wurdinton," "Wortington," and "Worthington," reflecting the evolving spellings and pronunciations of the time. During this period, the name was associated with several notable individuals, including Sir William Worthington (c. 1235-1311), a prominent landowner and knight from Cheshire.

As the surname spread across England, it became associated with different geographical locations, leading to variations in spelling and pronunciation. For example, in Lancashire, the name was often spelled "Worthington," while in Yorkshire, it was commonly written as "Warthington."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Worthington can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners and their holdings. In this record, a Robert de Worthington is listed as holding property in Cheshire.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Worthington. One such person was Thomas Worthington (1549-1622), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the President of Douai College, a Catholic seminary in France.

Another prominent figure was John Worthington (1618-1671), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Jesus College, Cambridge. He was known for his theological writings and his efforts to promote religious tolerance during a period of significant religious upheaval in England.

In the realm of politics, Thomas Worthington (1773-1827) was an American statesman and the sixth Governor of Ohio. He played a significant role in the early development of the state and was instrumental in the establishment of several educational institutions, including Ohio University.

Moving into the 20th century, one notable bearer of the name was Edgar Burton Worthington (1905-1993), an American chemist and inventor known for his contributions to the development of the modern disposable razor blade.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals who have carried the surname Worthington throughout history, reflecting the name's enduring presence across various fields and geographical regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Worthington

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

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

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

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