Show ContentsElworthy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Elworthy is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived in Cambridgeshire, where they derived their name from the place-name Elsworth. The place-name is derived from the Old English personal name Eli and worth, an Old English word for farm. The place-name translated literally as Eli's farm. 1

Early Origins of the Elworthy family

The surname Elworthy was first found in Cambridgeshire at Elsworth, a parish, in the union of Caxton and Arrington, hundred of Papworth. An ancient Saxon village, it dates back to 974 when it was first listed as Eleswurth. 1 By the Domesday Book of 1086, the place name had evolved to Elesuuorde. 2 Elworth is a village and a suburb of Sandbach, Cheshire but is rather recent in history so as to be an unlikely origin of the surname. Elworthy is a small village and civil parish in the Brendon Hills area of Somerset. 3

Early History of the Elworthy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Elworthy research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1280, 1400, 1600 and 1668 are included under the topic Early Elworthy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elworthy Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Elworthy family name include Ellesworth, Elsworth, Ellsworth, Elisworth, Ellisworth, Elsworthy and many more.

Early Notables of the Elworthy family

More information is included under the topic Early Elworthy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Elworthy migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Elworthy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Isaac Elworthy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Stevenson" in 1850 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Elworthy (post 1700) +

  • Mr. Steven Elworthy M.B.E., British Director of Events for English Cricket Board, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Cricket 5
  • Edward Elworthy (1836-1899), English-born, New Zealand sheep farmer of 42,000 acres
  • Frederick Thomas Elworthy (1830-1907), English philologist and antiquary
  • Charles Herbert Elworthy (1961-2023), New Zealand economist and social scientist
  • Marshal of the Royal Air Force Samuel Charles Elworthy KG, GCB, CBE, DSO, LVO, DFC, AFC (1911-1993), Baron Elworthy, British senior officer in the Royal Air Force
  • Scilla Elworthy (b. 1943), Scottish founder of the Oxford Research Group who was awarded the Niwano Peace Prize in 2003
  • Kenneth David Elworthy, British Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at the University of Warwick
  • Steven Elworthy (b. 1965), former South African cricketer


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WILLIAM STEVENSON 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850WmStevenson.gif
  5. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 4 July 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1


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