NameCensus.

UK surname

Worton

An English place name turned surname, possibly referring to someone from Worton, Oxfordshire.

In the 1881 census there were 631 people recorded with the Worton surname, ranking it #5,619 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,254, ranked #4,768, up from #5,619 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Dudley and Rowley Regis. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley, Stockton-on-Tees and Blaenau Gwent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Worton is 1,363 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 98.7%.

1881 census count

631

Ranked #5,619

Modern count

1,254

2016, ranked #4,768

Peak year

1998

1,363 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Worton had 631 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,619 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,254 in 2016, ranked #4,768.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,225 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Worton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Worton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Worton 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 469 #5,291
1861 historical 721 #3,771
1881 historical 631 #5,619
1891 historical 879 #4,683
1901 historical 1,111 #4,353
1911 historical 1,225 #3,855
1997 modern 1,319 #4,345
1998 modern 1,363 #4,370
1999 modern 1,348 #4,449
2000 modern 1,347 #4,433
2001 modern 1,333 #4,388
2002 modern 1,334 #4,474
2003 modern 1,264 #4,597
2004 modern 1,246 #4,654
2005 modern 1,227 #4,671
2006 modern 1,203 #4,764
2007 modern 1,216 #4,756
2008 modern 1,208 #4,816
2009 modern 1,246 #4,792
2010 modern 1,264 #4,830
2011 modern 1,283 #4,704
2012 modern 1,263 #4,685
2013 modern 1,278 #4,728
2014 modern 1,300 #4,676
2015 modern 1,276 #4,713
2016 modern 1,254 #4,768

Geography

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Where Wortons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Dudley, Rowley Regis, Oldswinford and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley, Stockton-on-Tees and Blaenau Gwent. 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 Sedgley Staffordshire
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
4 Oldswinford Worcestershire
5 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 005 Dudley
2 Dudley 033 Dudley
3 Stockton-on-Tees 014 Stockton-on-Tees
4 Dudley 039 Dudley
5 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Worton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Worton

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Worton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Worton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Worton is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Worton 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

Worton 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 Worton 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 Worton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Worton

The surname Worton is of English origin, dating back to medieval times. The name is believed to be locational, derived from places named Worton in the counties of Oxfordshire, Herefordshire, and other regions in England. The name itself likely originates from the Old English words "wyrt," meaning plant or herb, and "tun," meaning enclosure or settlement, which together would signify a farm or settlement where herbs or plants were grown.

The Worton name appears in historical records such as the Domesday Book of 1086, where the place name "Wortun" is listed. It indicates that settlements called Worton existed during the Norman Conquest and the terms have evolved over time to form the surname. These early references establish the Worton name as being relatively consistent in its spelling and connected to specific geographical locations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is from the 13th century, where Robert de Worton is mentioned in the Oxfordshire records of 1273. This suggests that the family held land and had a significant local presence during the medieval period. Over the centuries, various members of the Worton family can be traced through parish records, legal documents, and other historical manuscripts.

In 1565, Thomas Worton, noted as a yeoman in Worcestershire, appears in regional records, indicating the spread of the surname outside its original localities. Similarly, a record from 1628 mentions William Worton of Herefordshire, further demonstrating the continued presence of the surname in different parts of England.

During the English Civil War, John Worton, born in 1610, served in the Parliamentary forces and was recorded in military documents of the period. His involvement in the conflict points to the engagement of the Worton family in significant national events.

In the 18th century, James Worton (1725-1789) of Oxfordshire was a landowner and is mentioned in various property transactions. His prominence in local affairs again highlights the longstanding association of the Worton name with landed estates and farming communities.

Finally, in the late 19th century, Charles Worton (1843-1901) made a name for himself as an industrialist in the Birmingham area. His ventures into manufacturing and commerce are well-documented, reflecting the changing economic activities of the Worton family over time.

The Worton surname, therefore, encapsulates a rich history rooted in English soil, with its bearers playing various roles from medieval landowners to modern industrialists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Worton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Worton 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. Staffordshire leads with 260 Wortons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.47x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 260 12.47x
Worcestershire 130 16.12x
Middlesex 38 0.62x
Warwickshire 35 2.25x
Surrey 31 1.03x
Durham 27 1.47x
Yorkshire 26 0.42x
Lanarkshire 17 0.85x
Norfolk 14 1.47x
Derbyshire 13 1.34x
Kent 12 0.57x
Cumberland 10 1.88x
Northamptonshire 5 0.86x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.60x
Brecknockshire 2 1.62x
Lancashire 2 0.03x
Sussex 2 0.19x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.17x
Bedfordshire 1 0.31x
Northumberland 1 0.11x
Suffolk 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sedgley in Staffordshire leads with 73 Wortons recorded in 1881 and an index of 94.30x.

Place Total Index
Sedgley 73 94.30x
Kingswinford 48 63.42x
Dudley 40 40.80x
Rowley Regis 33 56.82x
Cradley 31 425.24x
Aston 21 4.90x
Wolverhampton 20 12.48x
Gradley 19 487.18x
Wednesfield 19 61.95x
Newington 17 7.45x
Tipton 15 23.50x
St Pancras London 12 2.41x
Bothwell 11 20.31x
Chilton 11 191.97x
Northfield 11 71.90x
Shoreditch London 11 4.11x
Great Yarmouth 10 12.72x
Southwark St John 10 52.94x
Stainburn 10 2083.33x
West Bromwich 10 8.38x
Birmingham 9 1.73x
Alfreton 8 27.24x
Handsworth 8 15.57x
Stourbridge 8 38.55x
Tudhoe 8 49.78x
Kinver 7 116.47x
Stranton 7 11.32x
Wednesbury 7 13.44x
Wollescote 7 107.69x
Lye 6 44.71x
Old Monkland 6 7.57x
Plumstead 6 8.54x
Rawmarsh 6 27.75x
Amblecote 5 84.18x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 8.77x
Brackley St James 5 375.94x
Islington London 5 0.84x
Linthorpe 5 13.69x
Ormesby 5 30.41x
Beeston 4 41.84x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.49x
Harborne 4 5.99x
Walsall Foreign 4 3.72x
Warley Salop 4 344.83x
Cannock 3 8.25x
Codnor Park 3 132.16x
Coventry St Michael 3 6.00x
Lewisham 3 2.67x
St Clement Danes 3 30.00x
Banningham 2 384.62x
Colby 2 392.16x
Croydon 2 1.20x
Doncaster 2 4.47x
Hay 2 43.57x
Ramsgate 2 5.82x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 0.90x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 2 9.48x
Wombourn 2 51.68x
Aberdeen 1 1428.57x
Arnold 1 8.23x
Black Callerton 1 303.03x
Camberwell 1 0.25x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 2.15x
Derby St Peter 1 3.25x
East Grinstead 1 6.78x
Edgbaston 1 2.07x
Gate Fulford 1 7.00x
Gravesend 1 5.61x
Hampstead London 1 1.04x
Ilkeston 1 3.69x
Lutley 1 256.41x
Luton 1 1.81x
Middlesbrough 1 1.26x
Newick 1 43.67x
Pedmore 1 94.34x
Richmond 1 2.37x
St Luke London 1 1.01x
Stockton On Tees 1 1.13x
Upperswinford 1 14.66x
Wombwell 1 5.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Sarah 38
Elizabeth 16
Jane 13
Hannah 12
Alice 10
Ann 10
Eliza 10
Martha 7
Annie 6
Louisa 6
Caroline 5
Charlotte 5
Clara 5
Emma 5
Ellen 4
Esther 4
Harriet 4
Margaret 4
Matilda 4
Ada 3
Anne 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Phebe 3
Sophia 3
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Elen 2
Fanny 2
Jemima 2
Minnie 2
Phoebe 2
Ruth 2
Susannah 2
Agnes 1
Berthea 1
Carolin 1
Catharine 1
Edna 1
Edwina 1
Henzey 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
James 1
Jenny 1
Tryphena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 47
William 29
Samuel 22
Thomas 22
Joseph 20
Edward 16
Henry 12
George 9
James 9
Charles 8
Albert 6
Alfred 6
Benjamin 5
David 5
Harry 4
Aaron 3
Joshua 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Edgar 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Ishmael 2
Israel 2
Job 2
Jonah 2
Jonas 2
Roland 2
Solomon 2
Benjiman 1
Edwin 1
Elias 1
Fedk. 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Fred.K. 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
G.T. 1
Giles 1
Gorge 1
Isac 1
Isarael 1
J.B. 1
Jeremiah 1
Josiah 1
Willm.H 1

FAQ

Worton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Worton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 631 people were recorded with the Worton surname. That placed it at #5,619 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Worton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,254 in 2016. That gives Worton a modern rank of #4,768.

What does the Worton surname mean?

An English place name turned surname, possibly referring to someone from Worton, Oxfordshire.

What does the Worton map show?

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