NameCensus.

UK surname

Worden

An occupational surname for a keeper or guardian of a manor house or estate.

In the 1881 census there were 844 people recorded with the Worden surname, ranking it #4,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 950, ranked #6,045, down from #4,467 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Preston and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Preston, Cornwall and South Ribble.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Worden is 1,111 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.6%.

1881 census count

844

Ranked #4,467

Modern count

950

2016, ranked #6,045

Peak year

1911

1,111 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Worden had 844 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,467 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 950 in 2016, ranked #6,045.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,111 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Worden surname distribution map

The map shows where the Worden surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Worden surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Worden over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 495 #5,049
1861 historical 507 #5,159
1881 historical 844 #4,467
1891 historical 838 #4,864
1901 historical 1,001 #4,758
1911 historical 1,111 #4,178
1997 modern 995 #5,525
1998 modern 1,026 #5,561
1999 modern 1,029 #5,585
2000 modern 1,022 #5,581
2001 modern 1,010 #5,536
2002 modern 1,021 #5,603
2003 modern 987 #5,651
2004 modern 1,005 #5,574
2005 modern 994 #5,583
2006 modern 991 #5,598
2007 modern 970 #5,749
2008 modern 968 #5,791
2009 modern 981 #5,852
2010 modern 990 #5,921
2011 modern 936 #6,139
2012 modern 931 #6,090
2013 modern 956 #6,043
2014 modern 969 #6,021
2015 modern 952 #6,063
2016 modern 950 #6,045

Geography

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Where Wordens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Preston, Blackburn, Sourton and Egloshayle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Preston, Cornwall and South Ribble. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 3
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Sourton Devon
5 Egloshayle Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Preston 007 Preston
2 Preston 017 Preston
3 Cornwall 009 Cornwall
4 Preston 016 Preston
5 South Ribble 007 South Ribble

Forenames

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First names often paired with Worden

These lists show first names that appear often with the Worden surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Worden

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Worden, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Worden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Worden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Worden is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Worden is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Worden falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Worden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Worden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Worden

The surname Worden has its origins in England, and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'worð', meaning an enclosed homestead or farm. The name was initially associated with people who lived in a particular enclosure or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1166, which mentions a person named Willelmus de Worden. The surname is also mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1273, referring to a place called 'Worden'.

The name Worden is closely linked to various place names in England, such as Worden in Lancashire, Worden Green in Hertfordshire, and Worden Hall in Leyland. These place names likely originated from the Old English word 'worð', indicating that the surname was initially derived from the location where the family resided.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the form of 'Wordene' in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332. This variation in spelling was common during that time period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One notable individual bearing the surname Worden was John Worden, a 16th-century English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Balliol College, Oxford, from 1598 to 1609.

Another significant figure was Peter Worden, born in 1596, who was an English colonist and one of the earliest settlers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He is believed to have arrived in America in 1623 and played a crucial role in the early development of the colony.

In the 18th century, Robert Worden, born in 1718, was a prominent American merchant and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly and was actively involved in the American Revolution.

The 19th century saw the rise of John Lort Worden, an American naval officer who played a significant role during the American Civil War. Born in 1818, he is best known for commanding the USS Monitor during the Battle of Hampton Roads in 1862, one of the most famous naval battles in history.

Another notable figure from the 19th century was John Lorimer Worden, born in 1835, who was an American diplomat and politician. He served as the United States Minister to Bolivia and later as the Consul-General to Mexico City.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Worden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Worden surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 456 Wordens recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.65x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 456 4.65x
Cornwall 150 16.02x
Devon 123 7.14x
Surrey 29 0.72x
Durham 15 0.61x
Middlesex 14 0.17x
Gloucestershire 12 0.74x
Dorset 7 1.29x
Sussex 7 0.50x
Berkshire 5 0.81x
Cheshire 5 0.27x
Royal Navy 5 5.07x
Suffolk 5 0.50x
Hampshire 3 0.18x
Northumberland 3 0.24x
Yorkshire 3 0.04x
Glamorgan 2 0.14x
Essex 1 0.06x
Monmouthshire 1 0.17x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x
Warwickshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 137 Wordens recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.17x.

Place Total Index
Preston 137 52.17x
Walton Le Dale 85 322.21x
Blackburn 45 17.23x
Egloshayle 23 523.92x
Lea Ashton Ingol 17 260.74x
Chorley 14 25.42x
Lytham 14 93.46x
Okehampton 14 215.72x
Rotherhithe 14 13.70x
Northlew 13 601.85x
St Kew 13 416.67x
St Neot 13 352.30x
Broadwoodwidger 11 564.10x
Over Darwen 11 14.03x
Sourton 11 753.42x
South Petherwin 11 470.09x
St Ive 11 183.03x
St Minver 11 385.96x
Accrington 10 11.21x
Leyland 10 58.55x
Saltash 10 137.74x
Dawdon 9 29.73x
Everton 9 2.88x
Pillaton 9 937.50x
Plymouth Charles The 9 11.86x
Farington 8 140.11x
Great Harwood 8 45.10x
Lanteglos 8 184.76x
Medlar With Wesham 8 272.11x
Penwortham 8 172.04x
Hoghton 7 282.26x
Lamerton 7 214.07x
Padstow 7 112.54x
Portland 7 23.98x
Ashbury 6 4285.71x
Esh 6 33.50x
Exeter St David 6 40.79x
Fishwick 6 98.85x
Lambeth 6 0.83x
Liskeard 6 38.29x
St Breock 6 118.58x
Widnes 6 8.47x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 3.27x
Culcheth 5 77.76x
East Hendred 5 216.45x
Hatherleigh 5 116.82x
Hurdsfield 5 44.48x
Islington London 5 0.62x
Kirkley 5 59.31x
Littleham 5 39.71x
Loddiswell 5 220.26x
Padiham 5 21.09x
Plymstock 5 55.43x
St Endellion 5 153.85x
Toxteth Park 5 1.50x
Whittle Le Woods 5 153.85x
Cuerdale 4 1538.46x
East Dean 4 412.37x
Little Harwood 4 224.72x
Stratton 4 78.74x
Thrushelton 4 330.58x
Tormoham 4 5.49x
Barrow In Furness 3 2.25x
Berkeley Ham Stone 3 405.41x
Bodmin 3 19.37x
Burnley 3 3.63x
Bury 3 2.68x
Camberwell 3 0.57x
Dartmouth St Savior 3 146.34x
Dartmouth St Saviour 3 60.98x
Egham 3 12.12x
Greenford 3 197.37x
Tavistock 3 15.30x
Beaworthy 2 238.10x
Linton In Skipton 2 240.96x
Penarth 2 14.20x
Rockhampton 2 322.58x
St Dennis 2 57.14x
St Teath 2 35.46x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Worden surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 77
Elizabeth 40
Ann 29
Sarah 24
Alice 23
Margaret 22
Ellen 21
Jane 15
Emma 11
Martha 9
Emily 8
Anne 7
Annie 6
Catherine 6
Grace 6
Isabella 6
Amelia 5
Eliza 5
Hannah 5
Agnes 4
Elizth. 4
Maria 4
Anna 3
Bessie 3
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Gertrude 3
Harriett 3
Jessie 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Rhoda 3
Susanna 3
Ada 2
Charlotte 2
Elenor 2
Eliz. 2
Esther 2
Helen 2
Jemima 2
Joanna 2
Maggie 2
Mar. 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Carrie 1
Elnor 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Worden surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 74
John 65
Thomas 37
James 31
Joseph 21
George 19
Richard 16
Robert 11
Samuel 9
Edward 8
Henry 8
Frederick 7
Peter 7
Arthur 6
Charles 6
Wm. 5
Frank 3
Ralph 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Herbert 2
Lewis 2
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Charlie 1
Christopher 1
Clive 1
Emanuel 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Fredk.Geo. 1
Georgie 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Jessie 1
Jno. 1
Joan 1
Mary 1
Nicholas 1
Oliver 1
Reuben 1
Robt. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Worden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Worden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 844 people were recorded with the Worden surname. That placed it at #4,467 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Worden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 950 in 2016. That gives Worden a modern rank of #6,045.

What does the Worden surname mean?

An occupational surname for a keeper or guardian of a manor house or estate.

What does the Worden map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Worden bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.