2000
#26,016
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 886
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.33
Rare Last name
Worthley
An English locational surname derived from a place meaning "fertile clearing" or "meadow by a stream".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,022 Americans carry the last name Worthley. That puts it at #28,469 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.30 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 335,376 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Worthley 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
1.0K
1 in 335,376
Census rank
#28,469
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
891
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 891 bearers of the surname Worthley in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.30 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 28469th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Worthley, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Worthley
The surname Worthley is of English origin, with its roots firmly entrenched in medieval England. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English elements "worth," meaning an enclosure, and "leah," meaning a clearing or meadow. It likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in a valuable clearing or enclosed meadow. The name is locational, meaning it derives from a particular geographical feature or settlement.
Worthley first appears in historical records dating back to the early medieval period, around the 13th century. Variations of the name in old documents include Worthly, Wrothley, and Worthleigh. One of the earliest references can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297, which list a John de Worthlegh, indicating that the surname was already established by that time. This suggests that the name has been in use for at least 700 years.
During the 14th century, the name continues to surface in various documents and records. For example, the Poll Tax records of 1379 list a Richard de Worthlegh in Yorkshire. The worth element in the name suggests a place of value or importance, which was significant during a time when land and agricultural productivity were crucial to social status and survival.
The Worthley name can also be traced through the changing spellings of town names and estates. For instance, ancient settlements named Worthleigh in Devon and Worthlegh in Worcestershire reflect the name's spread across England. Both districts had landowners during the early medieval period who likely contributed to the diffusion of the surname.
One noteworthy individual with this surname is Sir Thomas Worthley, an English knight born in 1412 and recorded in the annals of the Hundred Years' War. He was noted for his service in several key battles and his loyalty to the crown, holding estates in Yorkshire and parts of Warwickshire until his death in 1472.
In the 17th century, the name appears among early American settlers. John Worthley, born in England in 1610, emigrated to the American colonies around 1638, establishing one of the first Worthley families in Massachusetts. His progeny were among the founding families of some Massachusetts towns, showing the name's persistence through generations.
By the 19th century, the surname had spread considerably. William Worthley, born in 1790, achieved prominence as an agricultural reformer in England, advocating for improved farming techniques. His contributions were well documented in agricultural societies and journals of that period.
Another notable Worthley was Charles Frederick Worthley, born in 1870, who became a well-regarded architect in London. His work included several key buildings in the early 20th century, contributing to the architectural landscape of the era. He passed away in 1935, leaving behind a legacy of innovative design.
Thus, the surname Worthley has a rich history dating back centuries, rooted in the landscape of medieval England and evolving through the years across different regions and countries. From old English clearings to modern architectural feats, the name's journey is a testament to the diverse and enduring legacy of the Worthley lineage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Worthley
Among Census respondents with the surname Worthley, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Worthley 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 Worthley surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.9% · 819
- Hispanic or Latino3.3% · 29
- Two or more races2.5% · 22
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.2% · 11
- Black or African American0.6% · 5
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Worthley
Worthley 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
#26,243
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 931
+45 bearers (+5.1%)
Per 100,000 0.32
Rank movement Down 227 places
2020
#28,469
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 891
-40 bearers (-4.3%)
Per 100,000 0.30
Rank movement Down 2,226 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #26,016 | 886 | 0.33 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #26,243 | 931 | 0.32 | +45 bearers (+5.1%) | Down 227 places |
| 2020 | #28,469 | 891 | 0.30 | -40 bearers (-4.3%) | Down 2,226 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 Worthley 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 | #26,243 | #28,469 | -8.5% |
| Count | 931 | 891 | -4.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.32 | 0.30 | -6.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Worthley bearers went from 931 to 891 (-4.3% change). The surname moved down 2,226 positions in the national ranking, going from #26,243 to #28,469.
FAQ
Worthley surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Worthley?
Name Census estimates that about 1,022 living Americans carry the surname Worthley. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 335,376 residents.
How common is Worthley?
Worthley ranks #28,469 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.30 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 891 people with the surname Worthley. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (1,022), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.3 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.30 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 Worthley.
Has Worthley become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Worthley went from 931 recorded bearers to 891. That is a decrease of 40 (-4.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #26,243 to #28,469.
What does the Census say about the background of Worthley?
Among Census respondents with the surname Worthley, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%) and Two or More Races (2.5%). 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 Worthley in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.9% (819 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Worthley appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.9%), Hispanic (3.3%), Two or More Races (2.5%). 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 Worthley (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 Worthley mean?
An English locational surname derived from a place meaning "fertile clearing" or "meadow by a stream". 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 Worthley (0.30 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 Americans have the surname Worthley?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.