NameCensus.

UK surname

Worthington

A locational surname referring to a town in England meaning "estate of Worth's people."

In the 1881 census there were 5,992 people recorded with the Worthington surname, ranking it #735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,507, ranked #889, down from #735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Eccles and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, Calderdale and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Worthington is 8,176 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.3%.

1881 census count

5,992

Ranked #735

Modern count

7,507

2016, ranked #889

Peak year

1911

8,176 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Worthington had 5,992 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,507 in 2016, ranked #889.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,176 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Worthington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Worthington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Worthington 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 3,790 #752
1861 historical 3,729 #755
1881 historical 5,992 #735
1891 historical 6,385 #723
1901 historical 7,378 #730
1911 historical 8,176 #611
1997 modern 7,611 #845
1998 modern 7,916 #846
1999 modern 7,955 #848
2000 modern 7,851 #855
2001 modern 7,717 #850
2002 modern 7,843 #857
2003 modern 7,730 #846
2004 modern 7,654 #857
2005 modern 7,540 #856
2006 modern 7,529 #861
2007 modern 7,595 #861
2008 modern 7,639 #859
2009 modern 7,769 #867
2010 modern 7,883 #875
2011 modern 7,829 #863
2012 modern 7,515 #885
2013 modern 7,662 #882
2014 modern 7,703 #882
2015 modern 7,566 #886
2016 modern 7,507 #889

Geography

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Where Worthingtons are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, Calderdale and Cheshire East. 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 Wigan Lancashire
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 032 Bolton
2 Calderdale 027 Calderdale
3 Bolton 033 Bolton
4 Bolton 029 Bolton
5 Cheshire East 018 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Worthington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Worthington

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Worthington, 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 Worthington surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Worthington 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, Worthington 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

Worthington is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Worthington 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 Worthington is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Worthington

The surname Worthington is of English origin, derived from the place name Worthington, which is found in several counties across England. The name has its roots in the Old English words "worð" meaning "enclosure" or "estate" and "tun" meaning "farm" or "settlement." The combination of these two words suggests that the name likely referred to a settlement or farmstead within an enclosed area or estate.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Worthington can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Werthinton" and "Uuordinctun." This ancient record provides evidence of the name's existence and its connection to specific locations during the Norman Conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Wurdinton," "Wortington," and "Worthington," reflecting the evolving spellings and pronunciations of the time. During this period, the name was associated with several notable individuals, including Sir William Worthington (c. 1235-1311), a prominent landowner and knight from Cheshire.

As the surname spread across England, it became associated with different geographical locations, leading to variations in spelling and pronunciation. For example, in Lancashire, the name was often spelled "Worthington," while in Yorkshire, it was commonly written as "Warthington."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Worthington can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners and their holdings. In this record, a Robert de Worthington is listed as holding property in Cheshire.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Worthington. One such person was Thomas Worthington (1549-1622), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the President of Douai College, a Catholic seminary in France.

Another prominent figure was John Worthington (1618-1671), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Jesus College, Cambridge. He was known for his theological writings and his efforts to promote religious tolerance during a period of significant religious upheaval in England.

In the realm of politics, Thomas Worthington (1773-1827) was an American statesman and the sixth Governor of Ohio. He played a significant role in the early development of the state and was instrumental in the establishment of several educational institutions, including Ohio University.

Moving into the 20th century, one notable bearer of the name was Edgar Burton Worthington (1905-1993), an American chemist and inventor known for his contributions to the development of the modern disposable razor blade.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals who have carried the surname Worthington throughout history, reflecting the name's enduring presence across various fields and geographical regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Worthington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Worthington 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 3,399 Worthingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.89x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3,399 4.89x
Cheshire 704 5.45x
Staffordshire 445 2.25x
Yorkshire 181 0.31x
Nottinghamshire 172 2.18x
Middlesex 128 0.22x
Derbyshire 93 1.01x
Surrey 89 0.31x
Lincolnshire 80 0.85x
Leicestershire 79 1.22x
Warwickshire 74 0.50x
Hampshire 71 0.59x
Montgomeryshire 67 4.99x
Durham 52 0.30x
Glamorgan 39 0.38x
Kent 31 0.16x
Shropshire 31 0.61x
Northamptonshire 30 0.54x
Worcestershire 24 0.31x
Gloucestershire 22 0.19x
Northumberland 17 0.20x
Suffolk 16 0.22x
Denbighshire 15 0.68x
Essex 14 0.12x
Sussex 14 0.14x
Cardiganshire 13 0.91x
Devon 11 0.09x
Dorset 10 0.26x
Somerset 10 0.11x
Channel Islands 7 0.40x
Cumberland 7 0.14x
Flintshire 7 0.44x
Monmouthshire 7 0.17x
Radnorshire 7 1.48x
Caernarfonshire 6 0.25x
Berkshire 4 0.09x
Norfolk 4 0.04x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.08x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.08x
Renfrewshire 3 0.07x
Royal Navy 3 0.43x
Hertfordshire 2 0.05x
Lanarkshire 2 0.01x
Merionethshire 2 0.19x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.11x
Bedfordshire 1 0.03x
Brecknockshire 1 0.09x
Oxfordshire 1 0.03x
Westmorland 1 0.08x

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 238 Worthingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.80x.

Place Total Index
Preston 238 12.80x
Barton Upon Irwell 160 30.58x
Wigan 123 12.66x
Oldham 119 5.31x
Ashton Under Lyne 115 7.57x
Farnworth 111 26.66x
Everton 105 4.74x
Manchester 105 3.36x
Great Bolton 100 10.86x
Chorley 95 24.36x
Liverpool 93 2.20x
Pemberton 90 32.48x
Pendleton In Salford 87 10.51x
Hulme 82 5.65x
Gorton 78 11.94x
Salford 76 3.72x
West Derby 65 3.20x
Toxteth Park 61 2.59x
Stoke Upon Trent 58 2.77x
Macclesfield 57 9.92x
Atherton 52 20.56x
Heaton Norris 51 12.89x
Cheadle 50 20.25x
Layton With Warbreck 48 18.82x
Worsley 47 10.97x
Hindley 44 14.85x
Stockport 44 6.61x
Chorlton On Medlock 42 3.80x
Newton 37 6.91x
Calverton 36 144.12x
Standish With Langtree 36 42.06x
Runcorn 34 11.41x
Altrincham 33 14.61x
Sheffield 33 1.79x
Openshaw 32 9.83x
Pownall Fee 32 55.33x
Leek Lowe 31 11.79x
Wolstanton 31 5.16x
Rumworth 30 30.21x
Burslem 29 5.12x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 29 14.50x
Broughton In Salford 28 4.41x
Kirkdale 27 2.31x
Middle Hulton 27 65.60x
Eccleston In Prescot 26 7.45x
Ardwick 25 3.99x
Mobberley 25 84.72x
Walsall Foreign 25 2.45x
Latchford 24 27.94x
Chorley In Macclesfield 23 58.39x
Woodford 22 303.03x
Aspull 21 12.85x
Orrell 21 24.30x
Aston 20 0.49x
Blackburn 20 1.08x
Llanidloes 20 20.10x
Reddish 20 20.89x
Kensington London 19 0.58x
Nether Alderley 19 165.36x
Stockport Etchells 19 68.97x
Warrington 19 2.31x
Bradford 18 5.53x
Croston 18 50.13x
Islington London 18 0.32x
Little Hulton 18 15.64x
Withington 18 8.04x
Leyland 17 14.06x
Tamworth 17 16.08x
Walton On Hill 17 4.52x
Beckingham 16 230.55x
Blackrod 16 18.53x
Derby St Werburgh 16 3.02x
Ince In Makerfield 16 4.95x
Lancaster 16 3.87x
Newtown 16 18.64x
Nottingham St Mary 16 0.78x
Willenhall 16 4.32x
Birmingham 15 0.30x
Bury 15 1.89x
Parr 15 6.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 498
Elizabeth 275
Sarah 245
Ann 160
Jane 137
Ellen 122
Alice 119
Margaret 95
Martha 74
Annie 72
Hannah 70
Eliza 66
Emma 59
Emily 53
Harriet 34
Edith 31
Louisa 30
Ada 29
Catherine 29
Fanny 28
Anne 25
Florence 23
Maria 22
Agnes 19
Isabella 19
Lucy 19
Charlotte 18
Clara 18
Betsy 16
Caroline 16
Esther 16
Amelia 15
Harriett 13
Nancy 13
Amy 12
Eleanor 12
Kate 12
Elizth. 10
Jessie 10
Ruth 10
Frances 9
Minnie 9
Rebecca 9
Sophia 9
Betty 8
Margret 8
Ethel 7
Helen 7
Margt. 7
Rachel 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 442
William 351
James 236
Thomas 234
George 174
Henry 110
Joseph 105
Samuel 98
Edward 79
Charles 71
Robert 70
Arthur 65
Richard 63
Alfred 49
Peter 35
Ralph 30
Thos. 30
Walter 29
Albert 28
Wm. 28
Harry 27
Frederick 26
David 23
Isaac 23
Frank 21
Ernest 19
Herbert 18
Andrew 17
Edwin 17
Matthew 16
Hugh 13
Ambrose 12
Benjamin 10
Francis 10
Jno. 10
Abraham 9
Daniel 9
Geo. 9
Jas. 9
Fred 8
Willm. 8
Ellis 7
Jacob 6
Joshua 6
Josiah 6
Moses 6
Luke 5
Mark 5
Mathew 5
Robt. 5

FAQ

Worthington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Worthington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,992 people were recorded with the Worthington surname. That placed it at #735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Worthington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,507 in 2016. That gives Worthington a modern rank of #889.

What does the Worthington surname mean?

A locational surname referring to a town in England meaning "estate of Worth's people."

What does the Worthington map show?

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