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

Worthman, 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 Worthman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Worthman in America

Worthman is the 53316th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Worthman surname appeared 388 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 Worthman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Worthman 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 Worthman

The surname Worthman originates from England, with historical roots tracing back to the medieval period, roughly around the 13th to 14th centuries. The name is believed to be locational, derived from a place name indicating a geographical feature or a settlement. It is probably connected to a word meaning "worth," an Old English term translating to "enclosure" or "homestead." The suffix "man" suggests association with the land, such as a resident or landholder.

In the regions of ancient Yorkshire and Devonshire, variants of the surname appear in historical documents. Notably, the variant Wurthman can be found in early ecclesiastical records. The "worth" element was common in place names, often describing estates or areas of land that were fenced in or had a specific purpose, like grazing livestock or agricultural activities. It was in these regions that the name began to solidify as a surname.

One of the historical figures bearing this name was Thomas Worthman, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1348. The Subsidy Rolls were tax records listing inhabitants liable to pay subsidies to the monarchy, thus providing a valuable resource for genealogical and onomatological studies. Another early instance was Agnes Worthman, documented in the 1379 Poll Tax records of Yorkshire; this record listed individuals required to pay poll tax, further establishing the surname in public records.

As surnames began to stabilize during the Middle Ages, John Worthman appears in the Devonshire Hearth Tax Returns of 1662, where householders were taxed based on the number of hearths, illustrating the spread and socioeconomic standing of the family. The Hearth Tax Returns yield insight into the living conditions and wealth distribution of that period, with John's household being noted for having multiple hearths, indicating relative prosperity.

An important historical figure with this surname was Reverend Samuel Worthman, born in 1760 and noted for his theological writings and sermons throughout England. His works contributed significantly to the Anglican Church's intellectual landscape during the Enlightenment, making him a notable scholar of his time. Samuel Worthman's contributions are documented in various archives of ecclesiastical history.

George Worthman, born in 1789, served as a well-regarded jurist in early 19th century England. His legal opinions and writings influenced many subsequent laws and legal interpretations. His career highlights how individuals bearing this surname rose to significant positions in society, contributing to public life and governance.

Throughout history, the surname has evolved in spelling variations such as Wortheman, Wurthman, and eventually the standardized Worthman. As records became more systematic, the current spelling stabilized, leading to its consistent use in later historical documents and texts. The surname Worthman carries with it echoes of ancient English rural life and the enduring connection to specific lands and their historical contexts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Worthman

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

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

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

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