NameCensus.

UK surname

Worman

A surname referring to a person whose occupation involved earthworms or soils.

In the 1881 census there were 305 people recorded with the Worman surname, ranking it #9,615 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 300, ranked #14,738, down from #9,615 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Horsham, Eastbourne and East Hampshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Worman is 430 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.6%.

1881 census count

305

Ranked #9,615

Modern count

300

2016, ranked #14,738

Peak year

1911

430 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Worman had 305 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,615 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 300 in 2016, ranked #14,738.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 430 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Worman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Worman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Worman 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 211 #9,997
1861 historical 251 #9,830
1881 historical 305 #9,615
1891 historical 342 #10,023
1901 historical 372 #9,972
1911 historical 430 #8,804
1997 modern 339 #12,464
1998 modern 344 #12,679
1999 modern 348 #12,670
2000 modern 343 #12,746
2001 modern 336 #12,721
2002 modern 337 #12,965
2003 modern 321 #13,218
2004 modern 332 #12,951
2005 modern 328 #12,992
2006 modern 319 #13,318
2007 modern 312 #13,674
2008 modern 312 #13,764
2009 modern 318 #13,863
2010 modern 321 #14,066
2011 modern 319 #14,000
2012 modern 297 #14,607
2013 modern 301 #14,718
2014 modern 302 #14,772
2015 modern 308 #14,463
2016 modern 300 #14,738

Geography

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Where Wormans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, St Pancras, St John Hackney and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Horsham, Eastbourne, East Hampshire and Hinckley and Bosworth. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Horsham 014 Horsham
2 Eastbourne 006 Eastbourne
3 East Hampshire 017 East Hampshire
4 East Hampshire 006 East Hampshire
5 Hinckley and Bosworth 006 Hinckley and Bosworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Worman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Worman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Worman, 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 Worman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Worman 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Worman is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Worman is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Worman falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Worman 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 Worman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Worman

The surname Worman likely originates from English or German roots. The name can be traced back to Anglo-Saxon England, where it might have appeared in various forms such as "Were," "Weyr," or "Wyrm." Another plausible origin is from the German word "Wurm," which translates to "worm" in English, often used metaphorically to describe a humble or insignificant person. This surname also has ties to the Old Norse word "Ormr," meaning "serpent" or "dragon," suggesting a possible Viking influence in some regions.

Historical references to the surname Worman can be found in medieval documents. One of the earliest known recordings of the name in England appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census commissioned by King Edward I, where a Richard Worman is noted in Cambridgeshire. The name is also found in various spellings in early parish registers, wills, and land grants during the 14th and 15th centuries, highlighting its presence in medieval England.

In Germany, records from the Holy Roman Empire era document the surname in regions like Franconia and Swabia. A notable mention includes Johannes Worman, a 15th-century inhabitant of Nuremberg, who is listed in city tax records dating back to 1478. Other examples include Hans Worman, recorded in the city of Ulm's municipal records in the early 1500s, demonstrating the surname's Germanic roots.

Famous individuals bearing the surname Worman include George Worman, an English soldier born in 1615 who fought in the English Civil War and was noted for his service to the Royalist cause. Another prominent figure is Hermann Worman, a classical scholar born in 1840 in Germany, recognized for his contributions to the study of Ancient Greek philosophy during the late 19th century. Hannah Worman, an early American settler born in 1660, is among the first recorded instances of the surname in colonial America, indicating the migration of the name across the Atlantic.

In the 19th century, the name appears in the United States with people such as Henry Worman, born in 1829, who became a notable figure in the field of agricultural advancements in Pennsylvania. Elizabeth Worman, born in 1854, gained recognition for her work in education reform and women's rights in the late 1800s.

Overall, the surname Worman shows a rich historical tapestry intertwined with Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and German influences, evident through various historical documents, notable figures, and familial migrations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Worman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Worman 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. Middlesex leads with 84 Wormans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.81x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 84 2.81x
Norfolk 38 8.28x
Surrey 34 2.34x
Hertfordshire 28 13.61x
Essex 21 3.56x
Worcestershire 16 4.10x
Somerset 15 3.12x
Glamorgan 9 1.73x
Kent 8 0.79x
Lincolnshire 7 1.47x
Monmouthshire 6 2.78x
Sussex 6 1.19x
Yorkshire 5 0.17x
Cambridgeshire 4 2.12x
Hampshire 4 0.65x
Leicestershire 4 1.21x
Devon 3 0.48x
Lancashire 3 0.08x
Suffolk 3 0.83x
Staffordshire 2 0.20x
Wiltshire 2 0.76x
Gloucestershire 1 0.17x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.69x
Warwickshire 1 0.13x
Westmorland 1 1.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leigh in Worcestershire leads with 15 Wormans recorded in 1881 and an index of 317.12x.

Place Total Index
Leigh 15 317.12x
Kingston On Thames 14 40.07x
St Pancras London 14 5.83x
Hackney London 13 7.77x
Kensington London 12 7.23x
Hatfield 11 263.79x
Islington London 10 3.46x
West Ham 10 7.69x
Lakenham 9 138.04x
Norwich St Peter Southgate 8 1379.31x
Bermondsey 7 7.88x
Heigham 7 28.42x
Rickling 7 1521.74x
Stoke Newington London 7 30.11x
Taunton St Mary 7 79.37x
Hitchin 6 64.59x
Ruislip 6 402.68x
Chepstow 5 136.24x
Durston 5 2173.91x
Lambeth 5 1.92x
Lewisham 5 9.21x
St Anne Soho London 5 29.33x
Bethnal Green London 4 3.09x
Denton 4 800.00x
Leicester All Sts 4 61.54x
Merthyr Tydfil 4 8.01x
Midhurst 4 242.42x
Newington 4 3.63x
Riddlesworth 4 4000.00x
Rippingdale 4 714.29x
St Andrewthe Less 4 18.52x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 3.88x
Brading 3 36.90x
Brentwood 3 83.57x
Brickendon 3 315.79x
Camberwell 3 1.57x
Honiton 3 87.21x
Hornsey 3 7.95x
Manthorpe Cum Little 3 82.19x
Norwich St Giles 3 204.08x
Stoke Holy Cross 3 697.67x
Watford 3 18.81x
Aberdare 2 5.61x
Bishop Stortford 2 29.11x
Bow London 2 5.26x
Ratcliffe London 2 12.14x
Sedghill 2 1000.00x
Sheffield 2 2.12x
Shire Hall Yard 2 645.16x
West Bromwich 2 3.47x
Beddington 1 17.79x
Bramfield 1 384.62x
Bransford 1 384.62x
Bridgewater 1 7.67x
Broxbourne 1 24.51x
Chatham 1 3.57x
Conington 1 333.33x
Ecclesfield 1 4.61x
Grasmere 1 133.33x
Hastings St Leonards 1 13.51x
Hertford St John 1 32.57x
Horfield 1 16.98x
Ilminster 1 29.76x
Kings Worthy 1 222.22x
Llantwit Major 1 99.01x
Lowestoft 1 5.82x
Norwood 1 14.66x
Penarth 1 19.69x
Pinner 1 38.31x
Scarborough 1 3.72x
St George Bloomsbury 1 5.84x
St John Near Swansea 1 15.55x
St Marylebone London 1 0.63x
Stratford On Avon 1 23.98x
Taunton St James 1 14.27x
Walmer 1 22.57x
Wanstead 1 9.69x
Welton Melton 1 116.28x
Westminster St 1 9.09x
Willesden 1 3.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Sarah 14
Eliza 10
Elizabeth 9
Ellen 9
Ann 8
Alice 6
Emily 6
Louisa 5
Annie 4
Susan 4
Agnes 3
Edith 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Harriet 2
Laura 2
Maria 2
Rose 2
Thirza 2
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Christiana 1
Clara 1
Clerer 1
Deborah 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Hellen 1
Henrietta 1
Honour 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lettica 1
Lillie 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Marie 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 19
John 16
James 14
William 12
Henry 8
Robert 7
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Samuel 4
Benjamin 3
Charles 3
Herbert 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Eli 2
Ernest 2
Jason 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Charley 1
Douglas 1
Edd. 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Frederic 1
Jhn. 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Saml. 1
Samul 1
Simcox 1
Sydney 1
Thomas 1
Tom 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Worman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Worman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 305 people were recorded with the Worman surname. That placed it at #9,615 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Worman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 300 in 2016. That gives Worman a modern rank of #14,738.

What does the Worman surname mean?

A surname referring to a person whose occupation involved earthworms or soils.

What does the Worman map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Worman 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.