Waterworth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Waterworth is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Waterworth family lived in Yorkshire, at Wadsuuorde or Wadsworth.

Early Origins of the Waterworth family

The surname Waterworth was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Wadsuuorde or Wadsworth. This place was recorded in the Domesday Book taken in 1086 as 'King's Land', a Moorland with two churches and scattered houses. An isolated building within the village is said to be the setting for Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights'.

The village was granted by King William, to Roger de Bully, believed to be the ancestor of the Wadsworths, for his assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. 1

Years later, records show Adam de Waddeswrth listed in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1275. In the parish church of Silkstone, the name was recorded as Waddysworth (1556), Wardsworth (1656), Wadsworth (1666) and finally as Wordsworth (1668). 2 Longfellow's middle name was Wadsworth.

Early History of the Waterworth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Waterworth research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1572, 1594, 1604, 1622, 1623, 1656, 1675, 1730, 1777 and 1817 are included under the topic Early Waterworth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Waterworth Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Waterworth include Wadsworth, Wadworth, Wadesworth, Wordsworth and others.

Early Notables of the Waterworth family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was James Wadworth (1572?-1623), English divine and Jesuit, elected scholar at Emmanuel College, Cambridge; William Wadsworth (1594-1675), English-born early pioneer of New England, founder of Hartford, Connecticut and the patriarch of numerous and prominent Wadsworth descendants of North America; James Wadsworth (1604-c.1656), an English man who on a sea voyage to Spain (1622) was captured by Moorish pirates and sold...
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Waterworth Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Waterworth migration to Canada +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Waterworths to arrive on North American shores:

Waterworth Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Waterworth, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1774

Waterworth migration to Australia +

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

Waterworth Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Robert Waterworth, English convict from York, who was transported aboard the "Agamemnon" on April 22, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 3
Miss Mary Waterworth, English convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Diana" on 4th December 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4

Waterworth migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Waterworth Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Isabella Waterworth, (b. 1859), aged 2 months, English settler, from Durham travelling from London aboard the ship "Robert Small" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th January 1860 5
Mrs. Elizabeth Waterworth, (b. 1835), aged 24, English settler, from Durham travelling from London aboard the ship "Robert Small" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th January 1860 5
Mr. Thomas Waterworth, (b. 1836), aged 23, English mason, from Durham travelling from London aboard the ship "Robert Small" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 29th January 1860 5
William Waterworth, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Empress" in 1865

Contemporary Notables of the name Waterworth (post 1700) +

Steve Waterworth, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Illinois 18th District, 2004 6
William Waterworth (1811-1882), English Jesuit, born at St. Helen's, Lancashire
Lauren Waterworth (b. 1989), English vocalist, known for her work on Friends and Heroes (2007) and Kelly (1989-)
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Waterworth, English voice actress, known for her work on Horrid Henry (2006), Bob the Builder: Big Dino Dig (2011) and Horrid Henry: The Movie (2011)
James Waterworth (1806-1876), English Catholic missionary priest
Peter Andrew Waterworth (b. 1957), British barrister and diplomat, Governor of Montserrat from 2007 to 2011
Andrew Waterworth (b. 1986), Northern Irish footballer

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Agamemnon voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1820 with 179 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agamemnon/1820
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Diana
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html