NameCensus.

UK surname

Worsley

From a place name meaning "Wulf's wood or clearing" in Old English, or "Wulf's lee" (meadow).

In the 1881 census there were 2,626 people recorded with the Worsley surname, ranking it #1,691 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,997, ranked #2,243, down from #1,691 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Eccles and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, Gwynedd and South Ribble.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Worsley is 3,530 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.1%.

1881 census count

2,626

Ranked #1,691

Modern count

2,997

2016, ranked #2,243

Peak year

1911

3,530 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Worsley had 2,626 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,691 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,997 in 2016, ranked #2,243.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,530 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Worsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Worsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Worsley 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 1,877 #1,537
1861 historical 1,799 #1,611
1881 historical 2,626 #1,691
1891 historical 2,917 #1,614
1901 historical 3,151 #1,779
1911 historical 3,530 #1,482
1997 modern 3,030 #2,122
1998 modern 3,138 #2,136
1999 modern 3,162 #2,139
2000 modern 3,182 #2,111
2001 modern 3,152 #2,088
2002 modern 3,208 #2,095
2003 modern 3,129 #2,100
2004 modern 3,069 #2,139
2005 modern 3,055 #2,117
2006 modern 3,028 #2,146
2007 modern 3,050 #2,146
2008 modern 3,080 #2,142
2009 modern 3,148 #2,146
2010 modern 3,190 #2,171
2011 modern 3,177 #2,148
2012 modern 3,019 #2,210
2013 modern 3,039 #2,242
2014 modern 3,066 #2,229
2015 modern 3,042 #2,223
2016 modern 2,997 #2,243

Geography

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Where Worsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Eccles, Manchester, Preston and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, Gwynedd 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Eccles Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 017 Bolton
2 Gwynedd 011 Gwynedd
3 Bolton 019 Bolton
4 Bolton 003 Bolton
5 South Ribble 008 South Ribble

Forenames

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First names often paired with Worsley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Worsley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Worsley, 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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Worsley 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

Worsley is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Worsley falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Worsley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Worsley

The surname Worsley originates from England, tracing its roots back to the early medieval period. The name is derived from the Old English words "wurð" meaning an enclosed homestead or farm, and "leah" signifying a woodland clearing or meadow. It is believed to have originated as a locational surname, referring to individuals who hailed from the town or village of Worsley, located in Lancashire.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Wordeslea." This reference suggests that the name was already established in the region during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Wordeslegh, Wordsley, and Wordesley, reflecting the evolving nature of English spelling and pronunciation over time. These variations were common until the standardization of surnames in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Worsley has a strong connection to the Bridgewater family, a prominent noble house in England. John Worsley (1590-1646) was a notable figure during the English Civil War, serving as a colonel in the Royalist army. His descendants continued to hold influential positions, including Sir Richard Worsley (1694-1768), who became the 7th Baronet of Worsley and was a prominent politician and landowner.

Another notable bearer of the name was Frank Worsley (1872-1957), a renowned Antarctic explorer and navigator. He served as the captain of the Endurance expedition led by Sir Ernest Shackleton and played a crucial role in the successful rescue of the crew after their ship became trapped in ice.

In the literary realm, John Worsley (1794-1841) was a notable English author and clergyman who wrote several works on religious subjects and contributed to various periodicals of his time.

The surname has also been associated with the Worsley family of Yorkshire, which produced several notable individuals, including Sir William Worsley (1480-1538), a prominent merchant and landowner during the reign of Henry VIII, and Sir Henry Worsley (1617-1666), a Royalist commander during the English Civil War.

While the name Worsley has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through the British Empire and migration patterns. However, its origins can be traced back to the early medieval period in the regions of Lancashire and Yorkshire, where it first emerged as a locational surname reflecting the specific geographic locations from which the bearers originated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Worsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Worsley 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 1,433 Worsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.73x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,433 4.73x
Cheshire 263 4.67x
Yorkshire 188 0.74x
Kent 148 1.70x
Middlesex 111 0.43x
Bedfordshire 63 4.77x
Essex 44 0.87x
Surrey 39 0.31x
Sussex 39 0.91x
Gloucestershire 36 0.72x
Hertfordshire 33 1.88x
Derbyshire 23 0.58x
Hampshire 21 0.40x
Warwickshire 17 0.26x
Lincolnshire 16 0.39x
Shropshire 14 0.63x
Flintshire 13 1.89x
Leicestershire 13 0.46x
Cornwall 12 0.42x
Suffolk 12 0.39x
Angus 10 0.42x
Cambridgeshire 9 0.56x
Devon 6 0.11x
Somerset 6 0.15x
Staffordshire 6 0.07x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.32x
Durham 5 0.07x
Northamptonshire 5 0.21x
Lanarkshire 4 0.05x
Berkshire 3 0.16x
Northumberland 3 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.09x
Royal Navy 2 0.66x
Wiltshire 2 0.09x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.04x
Cardiganshire 1 0.16x
Cumberland 1 0.05x
Denbighshire 1 0.10x
Dorset 1 0.06x
Fife 1 0.07x
Glamorgan 1 0.02x
Midlothian 1 0.03x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.17x
Worcestershire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 110 Worsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.07x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 110 8.07x
Salford 66 7.41x
Little Bolton 59 15.15x
Pendleton In Salford 48 13.30x
Preston 46 5.68x
Hulme 44 6.96x
Cheadle 43 39.95x
Haslingden 40 31.89x
Luton 40 17.48x
Worsley 35 18.74x
Blackley 33 62.15x
Warrington 33 9.19x
Newton In Makerfield 32 34.50x
Over Darwen 31 12.81x
Stockport 30 10.34x
Chorley 29 17.06x
Adlington 28 98.70x
Bury 28 8.09x
Great Bolton 28 6.98x
Newton 26 11.14x
Heaton Norris 25 14.50x
Stockport Etchells 25 208.16x
Lowton 24 116.45x
Toxteth Park 24 2.34x
Hitchin 23 28.96x
Lockwood 22 24.17x
Radcliffe 22 15.07x
Brighton 21 2.42x
Lower Darwen 21 52.82x
Middleton In Oldham 18 19.82x
Wigan 18 4.25x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 18 35.89x
Ashton In Makerfield 17 19.71x
Chorlton On Medlock 17 3.53x
Ardwick 16 5.86x
Eccleston In Prescot 16 10.52x
Farnworth 16 8.82x
Hackney London 16 1.12x
Macclesfield 16 6.39x
Upperthong 16 74.38x
Barton Upon Irwell 15 6.58x
Halliwell 15 13.61x
Stretford 15 9.00x
Ainsworth 14 119.35x
Ashton Under Lyne 14 2.11x
Burtonwood 14 125.90x
Pendlebury 14 21.89x
Rusholme 14 17.33x
St Pancras London 14 0.68x
Didsbury 12 29.84x
Haydock 12 22.99x
Hebden 12 437.96x
Mile End Old Town 12 2.98x
Pemberton 12 9.94x
West Ham 12 1.08x
Willesden 12 4.99x
Alverstoke 11 5.81x
Battersea 11 1.17x
Blackburn 11 1.36x
East Ham 11 11.76x
Harpurhey 11 26.17x
Lambeth 11 0.49x
Madron Penzance 11 10.47x
Rumworth 11 25.41x
Sharples 11 33.48x
Tottington Lower End 11 7.64x
Wooldale 11 25.64x
Accrington 10 3.63x
Coventry St Michael 10 4.84x
Gloucester St John Baptist 10 30.93x
Liverpool 10 0.54x
Marston 10 116.69x
Norton 10 645.16x
Staplehurst 10 69.93x
Withington 10 10.25x
Broughton In Salford 9 3.25x
Colchester St Giles 9 18.08x
Heap 9 5.60x
Royton 9 9.71x
Walton Inferior 9 206.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 183
Elizabeth 105
Sarah 98
Ann 86
Jane 64
Alice 49
Ellen 47
Margaret 38
Emma 37
Hannah 32
Martha 32
Annie 28
Eliza 25
Emily 22
Harriet 15
Caroline 14
Amelia 12
Louisa 12
Catherine 11
Edith 11
Esther 11
Ada 10
Anne 10
Charlotte 10
Clara 10
Agnes 9
Fanny 9
Maria 9
Rose 9
Ruth 9
Elizth. 8
Amy 7
Kate 7
Lucy 7
Betsy 6
Frances 6
Julia 6
Lydia 6
Margt. 6
Rachel 6
Susan 6
Betty 5
Ethel 5
Florence 5
Grace 5
Nancy 5
Harriett 4
Henrietta 4
Jessie 4
Minnie 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 171
William 156
James 123
Thomas 112
George 67
Henry 46
Joseph 42
Charles 39
Robert 39
Edward 38
Richard 36
Samuel 27
Arthur 23
Walter 19
Albert 14
Frank 13
Wm. 13
Alfred 12
Harry 12
Edwin 10
Peter 10
Frederick 9
Thos. 9
Fred 8
Herbert 8
Ernest 7
Jas. 7
David 6
Francis 6
Moses 6
Nicholas 6
Benjamin 5
Richd. 5
Tom 5
Ralph 3
Reginald 3
Squire 3
Willie 3
Ashton 2
Cecil 2
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Horace 2
Isaac 2
Leonard 2
Louis 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Reuben 2
Robt. 2

FAQ

Worsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Worsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,626 people were recorded with the Worsley surname. That placed it at #1,691 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Worsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,997 in 2016. That gives Worsley a modern rank of #2,243.

What does the Worsley surname mean?

From a place name meaning "Wulf's wood or clearing" in Old English, or "Wulf's lee" (meadow).

What does the Worsley map show?

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