Show ContentsAtworth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Atworth family

The surname Atworth was first found in Wiltshire at Atworth, a tything and chapelry, in the parish of Great Bradford, union and hundred of Bradford that dates back to 1001 when it was listed as Attenwrthe. The place name literally means "enclosure or a man called Atta," from the Old English personal name + "worth." 1 An ancient Roman villa was located here and is one of six within approximately a three-mile radius. As far as the surname is concerned, the first records were found on the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where Geoffery de Attewurth and William de Attewurthe were both listed in Wiltshire. 2

Early History of the Atworth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Atworth research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Atworth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Atworth Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Atworth are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Atworth include: Atworth, Attworth, Attworthy, Atworthe, Atworthy, Atworthy, Atteworth and many more.

Early Notables of the Atworth family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • the Atworth family of Manchester

Migration of the Atworth family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Atworth or a variant listed above: H. G. Atworthy, aged 27, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1921.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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