Surname Worthington - Meaning and Origin

Tracing Origins and Migration: A Personal Revelation of The Worthington Surname Through iGENEA DNA Test Results

Delving deep into personal history, my iGENEA DNA test results were an enlightening exploration into the origins of my surname, Worthington. Evidence surfaced tying me to my Celtic ancestors, a vibrant story of migration highlighted, and a unique genetic marker found predominantly among individuals with British and Irish ancestry was identified in my DNA.

W. Worthington

Worthington: What does the surname Worthington mean?

The last name Worthington is a habitational surname, derived from the name of several places, most of which were in the county of Lancashire, England. These places are believed to be derived from the Old English words weorþ ‘enclosure’ and tun meaning ‘settlement’. The family who took the surname Worthington can trace their lineage back to Richard de Wortheton, who was present during the Conquest.

The Worthington surname is associated with both nobility and power in the Middle Ages. In 1235 William de Wortheton was Lord of the Manor of Worthington in Lancashire. He later passed down the title to his son, Sir John de Wortheton. In the 14th century, Sir John was appointed as the Chief Justice by Edward III. During this time, Sir John forayed into many other areas, establishing himself as one of the most influential people of his time.

In England, Worthington families have gained prominence and prestige over the centuries. Many more have traveled to the Americas, where the Worthington family name has continued to be very respected and prominent.

The Worthington name has been associated with power and nobility for centuries and is still highly respected today. It connotes a sense of strength and pride, and is often held in high regard by those who share it.

Worthington: Where does the name Worthington come from?

The last name Worthington is most common in the United States today. According to data from the United States Census Bureau, there were about 23,000 individuals with the last name Worthington living in the U.S. in 2020.

Geographically, the last name Worthington is most frequent in the East Coast of the United States. States like New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts had the highest number of individuals with the last name Worthington. However, they can also be found in other places around the country.

The top five cities with the most Worthingtons include New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Diego, and Las Vegas. The city with the highest concentration of Worthingtons is Philadelphia, which houses over 1,100 individuals with the last name.

Worthingtons can also be found in other countries, such as Canada, England, and Australia. Canada had approximately 1,940 individuals with the last name Worthington living within its borders as of 2020. In England, there were also 1,940 individuals with the last name living there as of 2020. Other countries like Australia and New Zealand also had citizens with the last name Worthington but in much lower numbers.

Overall, the last name Worthington is most common in the United States today and especially around the East Coast. However, they can also be found in other countries like Canada, England, and Australia in significantly lower numbers.

Variations of the surname Worthington

The Worthington surname has a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations are Worthingtun, Wurthingtun, Worthingtonne, Wurthingtonne, Wortington, Wurtington, Wurtinton, Wothington, Wotherington, Worthingtun, Worthyngton, Worthingstone, Wurthingstone, Worthyngstone, Wyterington, and Worthinton.

The Worthington surname has a number of roots. The most commonly used is from the place name of Worthington in Lancashire, England. On the census of 1086, the place name was written as Wyrtingtone, which may indicate it was derived from the Old English Words ‘ofter’ meaning ‘where there are’ and ‘tun’ meaning ‘farmstead’.

The surname also originated from the Norse name Vegti, which is comprised of the elements ‘vegr’ meaning ‘roads’ and ‘tun’ meaning ‘farms’. The surname may also be derived from the Old English personal name 'Wythering' and the surname Wurtemberg- meaning ‘from the fortress atop the mountain’.

The name has spread to many other countries across the world, and has been Anglicized in different ways. In the United States, the name has been written as Worthing, Worthington, Woerthington, and Warthington. In Germany, the name has been Anglicized as Worthing-e. In Ireland, the name is often spelled as Worthingham.

However, no matter the Anglicization, spellings or surnames of origin, the Worthington surname is an ancient one and has a rich history.

Famous people with the name Worthington

• Sam Worthington: Sam Worthington is an Australian actor best known for his role as Jake Sully in Avatar (2009).
• Hugh Worthington: Hugh Worthington is a British actor who starred in Hercule Poirot (1989–2013) and The Profumo Affair (1990).
• Worthington Kilbourne: Worthington Kilbourne was an American soldier, diplomat, and politician. He was a member of the Ohio General Assembly, a colonel in the U.S. Volunteers, and a minister to the Netherlands from 1846–1850.
• Eileen Worthington: Eileen Worthington is an Irish actress known for playing grandmother Maureen in Father Ted (1995–1998).
• Marsha Worthington: Marsha Worthington is an American author and speaker best known for her book God Is a Verb (1996).
• Nigel Worthington: Nigel Worthington is a former footballer and manager of the Northern Ireland national football team from 2005–2011.
• Steve Worthington: Steve Worthington is an Australian academic and business consultant who currently serves as president of Australian Institute of Management Education and Training.
• William Worthington: William Worthington was a prominent 19th-century English industrialist. He founded the Worthington & Co brewery in Burton upon Trent.
• Tracy Worthington: Tracy Worthington is an American singer and songwriter. Her debut album, Little White Lies (1999), received two Grammy Award nominations.
• Alf Worthington-Smith: Alf Worthington-Smith is a British musician and composer best known for his compositions for the film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004).

Other surnames

Worthing