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Show ContentsWorthington History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The Anglo-Saxon name Worthington comes from when the family resided in Lancashire at Worthington, a parish of Standish, union of Wigan, hundred of Leyland.

Early Origins of the Worthington family

The surname Worthington was first found in Lancashire at Worthington. "This place, anciently called Worthinton, was allotted, soon after the Domesday Survey, to Albert Greslet. A family of the local name were resident at the Hall in 1588, and from them proceeded the Worthingtons of Blainscough, of Crawshaw, and of Shevington." 1

The place name literally means "estate associated with a man called Weorth," from the Old English personal name + "-ing" + "tun." 2

It dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was first listed as Werditone. 3

While the village and civil parish in North West Leicestershire is also named Worthington, it is from the former historical county of Lancashire that the family originates. Now part of Greater Manchester, Worthington is a civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan. Wrightington in Lancashire was another ancient family seat. "The lordship was given by Albert de Gresley to Orm, son of Ailward or Edward, progenitor of the Ashtons, of Ashton; and his descendants were called de Wrightington." 1

Early History of the Worthington family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Worthington research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1549, 1566, 1570, 1618, 1627, 1650, 1671, 1703, 1754 and 1778 are included under the topic Early Worthington History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Worthington Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Worthington has been recorded under many different variations, including Worthington, Wrightington and others.

Early Notables of the Worthington family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • The Reverend Father Thomas Worthington, D.D. (1549-1627), an English Catholic priest and third President of Douai College. He was born in 1549 at Blainscough or Blainsco in the parish of Standish, nea...
  • Thomas Worthington (1671-1754), was a Dominican friar and writer. He was the fourth son of Thomas Worthington of Blainsco in the parish of Standish, near Wigan, Lancashire. 4
  • John Worthington (1618-1671), was an English academic born in Manchester, closely associated with the Cambridge Platonists. "He was the son of Roger Worthington and Katharine Heywood his wife, both me...
  • William Worthington (1703-1778), was a Welsh divine, son of Thomas Worthington of Aberhafesp, Montgomeryshire

Worthington World Ranking

In the United States, the name Worthington is the 2,081st most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 5 However, in New Zealand, the name Worthington is ranked the 885th most popular surname with an estimated 826 people with that name. 6 And in the United Kingdom, the name Worthington is the 849th popular surname with an estimated 7,977 people with that name. 7

Ireland Migration of the Worthington family to Ireland

Some of the Worthington family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Worthington migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Worthington or a variant listed above:

Worthington Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Nicholas Worthington, who settled in Connecticut in 1630
  • Henry Worthington, who settled in New England in 1631
  • Nicholas Worthington, who landed in Connecticut in 1649 8
  • William Worthington, who arrived in Maryland in 1664 8
  • John Worthington, who arrived in Virginia in 1665 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Worthington Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Philip Worthington, aged 60, who landed in Ohio in 1812 8
  • M. R. Worthington, who arrived in Philadelphia with their two children in 1820
  • Peter Worthington, who arrived in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1837 8
  • Richard Worthington, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1845 8
  • R Worthington, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Worthington migration to Australia +

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

Worthington Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Worthington, Enlgish carpetner who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for life, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 11th August 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1825 9
  • Mr. George Worthington, English convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Mary Worthington, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on December 14, 1835, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 11
  • Mr. John Worthington, English convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 27th July 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • George Worthington, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Lilford" in 1839 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Worthington 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:

Worthington Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • D. B. Worthington, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Golconda" in 1859
  • Mr. Edward Worthington, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Evening Star" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 14th October 1860 14
  • Mr. R. Worthington, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Derwent Water" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 26th November 1861 14
  • Mr. J. Worthington, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Derwent Water" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 26th November 1861 14
  • Miss Kate Worthington, (b. 1861), aged 10 months, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1862 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Worthington (post 1700) +

  • Calvin Coolidge "Cal" Worthington (1920-2013), American car dealer, the largest single owner of a car dealership chain in 1988 with 316.8 million in sales
  • Edward Worthington (1754-1804), Irish-born, American pioneer and soldier who explored and later helped settle the Kentucky frontier
  • William Jackson Worthington (1833-1914), American politician
  • William H. Worthington (1828-1862), American farmer, lawyer, and military officer
  • William Worthington (1872-1941), American silent film actor and director
  • Doug Worthington Jr. (b. 1987), American football defensive tackle for the St. Louis Rams
  • Denison Worthington (1806-1880), American politician, Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate
  • Craig Richard Worthington (b. 1965), American former Major League Baseball player whop played from 1988 to 1996, Topps Rookie All-Star Third Baseman in 1989
  • Christa Worthington (1956-2002), American fashion writer for Women's Wear Daily, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper's Bazaar, and the New York Times who was raped and stabbed to death at her home
  • Charles Campbell "C.C" Worthington (1854-1944), American industrialist who invented the first commercially successful gang lawnmower for golf fairway maintenance, instrumental in the foundation of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA)
  • ... (Another 25 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. P. Worthington (d. 1914), British Fireman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 15
SS Atlantic
  • Ambrose Worthington, British crew member who was aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

The Worthington Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In opinum sed gratum
Motto Translation: In my opinion, but graciously

Suggested Readings for the name Worthington +

  • A Genealogical Sketch of the Worthington and Plaskitt Families with Others by J. Plaskitt.
  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  7. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
  11. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1835 with 132 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1835
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-grey
  13. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LADY LILFORD 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839LadyLilford.htm
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
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