UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places named Wortham in England.
In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Wortham surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65, ranked #34,017, down from #22,893 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wortham is 121 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.3%.
1881 census count
75
Ranked #22,893
Modern count
65
2016, ranked #34,017
Peak year
1911
121 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wortham surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wortham surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 68 | #21,302 |
| 1861 | historical | 93 | #22,009 |
| 1881 | historical | 75 | #22,893 |
| 1891 | historical | 98 | #24,313 |
| 1901 | historical | 89 | #24,154 |
| 1911 | historical | 121 | #20,336 |
| 1997 | modern | 71 | #30,521 |
| 1998 | modern | 76 | #30,386 |
| 1999 | modern | 74 | #30,759 |
| 2000 | modern | 77 | #30,486 |
| 2001 | modern | 69 | #31,098 |
| 2002 | modern | 73 | #31,159 |
| 2003 | modern | 64 | #32,056 |
| 2004 | modern | 61 | #32,581 |
| 2005 | modern | 61 | #32,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 61 | #33,142 |
| 2007 | modern | 59 | #33,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 56 | #34,084 |
| 2009 | modern | 58 | #34,144 |
| 2010 | modern | 59 | #34,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 61 | #34,121 |
| 2012 | modern | 63 | #34,095 |
| 2013 | modern | 65 | #34,059 |
| 2014 | modern | 65 | #34,082 |
| 2015 | modern | 63 | #34,178 |
| 2016 | modern | 65 | #34,017 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, St Marylebone and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | St Giles Camberwell | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wortham surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wortham, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Wortham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wortham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Wortham is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wortham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wortham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Wortham is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval era. It is derived from the Old English words "worð" meaning "enclosure" or "homestead," and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village." This suggests that the name originated from a place name referring to a homestead or village with an enclosure.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Worðham" and "Wurtham." These entries indicate that individuals with this surname likely resided in areas with similar place names during the 11th century.
In the 13th century, records show variations of the name, such as "Wortham" and "Wortham," appearing in various regions of England, including Norfolk, Suffolk, and Hampshire. This suggests that the name had spread to different parts of the country over time.
One notable individual with this surname was John Wortham, a 16th-century English clergyman and academic. He was born in 1518 and served as the President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, from 1567 until his death in 1573.
Another prominent figure was Thomas Wortham, a 17th-century English politician and landowner. He was born in 1629 and served as a Member of Parliament for Thetford, Norfolk, from 1661 to 1679.
In the 18th century, Robert Wortham (1702-1786) was an English land surveyor and cartographer who gained recognition for his detailed maps of various counties in England.
The 19th century saw the rise of William Wortham (1828-1899), an English industrialist and philanthropist. He founded the Wortham Textile Mills in Lancashire and was known for his contributions to the local community.
Another notable individual was Louisa Wortham (1855-1932), an English educator and suffragist. She played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement and advocated for equal educational opportunities for women.
Throughout its history, the surname Wortham has been associated with various place names, such as Wortham in Suffolk, Wortham Green in Norfolk, and Wortham in Shropshire. These place names likely served as the origin of the surname for individuals who resided in or were associated with these locations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wortham surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 39 Worthams recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.13x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 39 | 5.13x |
| Surrey | 19 | 5.13x |
| Cambridgeshire | 8 | 16.60x |
| Devon | 5 | 3.16x |
| Channel Islands | 3 | 13.31x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.84x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.91x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.08x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.13x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire leads with 8 Worthams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1126.76x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bassingbourn | 8 | 1126.76x |
| Battersea | 7 | 25.01x |
| Chelsea London | 7 | 30.54x |
| St Pancras London | 7 | 11.43x |
| Kensington London | 6 | 14.19x |
| Eggesford | 5 | 10000.00x |
| Hampstead London | 5 | 42.19x |
| Newington | 5 | 17.79x |
| Westminster St James | 4 | 51.15x |
| Camberwell | 3 | 6.17x |
| Clerkenwell London | 3 | 16.70x |
| St Helier | 3 | 40.87x |
| East Molesey | 2 | 232.56x |
| Edmonton | 2 | 32.63x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 7.15x |
| Bardwell | 1 | 500.00x |
| Bridlington | 1 | 57.80x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.34x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.36x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.51x |
| Matlock | 1 | 62.50x |
| Royston | 1 | 222.22x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 8.25x |
| Walton On Thames | 1 | 58.82x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wortham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wortham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Wortham households.
FAQ
In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Wortham surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016. That gives Wortham a modern rank of #34,017.
A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places named Wortham in England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wortham bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.