Contents [hide]

Worth History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Worth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Worth surname was a habitational name, taken on from any of various places named Worth. The place names in turn come from the Old English "worð," meaning "enclosure," or "settlement."

"These names are from Anglo-Saxon worth, worthig, weorthig, wurthig, a field, portion of land, a farm, manor, an estate, also a street, public way (vicus, platea)." 1

Early Origins of the Worth family

The surname Worth was first found in Devon at Washfield, a parish, in the union of Tiverton, hundred of West Budleigh. "The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £19. 7. 6., and in the gift of J. Francis Worth, Esq. The church contains an old oak screen, which has been painted white; and a curious monument with brasses to the family of Worth." 2

"Worth, in Washfield, is one of the three places in Devon which still remain the possession and residence of families of the same name, the Worths having been seated there since the thirteenth century. " 3

One of the first records of the family is Richard de la Worthe who was listed there 20 Edward I (during the twentieth year of King Edward I.) 4

"The ancient family of Worth, which derived its name from the village of Worth, owned estates in Titherington from the 14th to the 17th century. The Worths of this county are now best represented in the Crewe district. The name is also established in Lincolnshire. There are villages thus called in Kent and Sussex." 5

John de Wurde was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Kent in 1195 and later, Hawaisia de la Wurth was found in the Feet of Fines for Somerset in 1204. Later again, Elyas de la Worlhwas listed in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1243. 6

Early History of the Worth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Worth research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1170, 1587, 1600, 1620, 1659, 1676, 1677, 1689, 1742 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Worth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Worth Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Worth, Worthe and others.

Early Notables of the Worth family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Ellis Worth (Woorth)(c. 1587-1659), a noted English actor in the Jacobean and Caroline eras, a leading member of two important companies: Queen Anne's Men and Prince Charles's Men; Roger Worthe, mayor...
William Worth (1677-1742), was an English classical scholar and divine, born at Penryn, Cornwall, and baptised at St. Gluvias, its parish church, on 20 Feb. 1676, the second son of William Worth, merc...

Worth Ranking

In the United States, the name Worth is the 4,079^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Worth family to Ireland

Some of the Worth 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.

Worth migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Worth Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Phillip Worth, who settled in Virginia in 1622
Philip Worth, who landed in Virginia in 1622 8
Lionel Worth, who settled in Boston in 1630
John Worth, who settled in Virginia in 1636
Roger Worth, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Worth Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Frederick Worth, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1760 8
Martin Worth, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 8

Worth Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Daniel Worth, who landed in Mobile County, Ala in 1840 8
Wilhelm Worth, aged 30, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 8
M Worth, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 8
Gottlieb Worth, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1854 8
William Worth, who landed in New York in 1863 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Worth migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Worth Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Benjamin Worth U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 9

Worth migration to Australia +

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

Worth Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Bartholomew Worth, English convict who was convicted in Exeter, Devon, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 19th August 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Samuel Worth, aged 31, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Sea Park" 11
Benjamin Worth, aged 22, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Trafalgar" 12

Worth 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:

Worth Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Gibson Worth, (b. 1857), aged 1 year 6 months, English settler from London travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 13
Mrs. Sarah Worth, (b. 1830), aged 28, English settler from London travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 13
Mr. Charles F Worth, (b. 1833), aged 25, English plasterer from London travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 13
Mr. Richard Charles Worth, (b. 1853), aged 5, English settler from London travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 13
Miss Emily Sarah Worth, (b. 1855), aged 3, English settler from London travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Worth (post 1700) +

William Jenkins Worth (1794-1849), United States general during the Mexican-American War, War of 1812, and Second Seminole War, namesake of Fort Worth, Texas
Valerie Worth (1933-1994), penname of Valerie Worth Bahlke, American poet and author of children's books
Nicholas Worth (1937-2007), American actor
Michael Worth, American actor
Marvin Worth (1925-1998), American Oscar nominated film producer
Jonathan Worth (1802-1869), American politician, 39th Governor of North Carolina (1865 to 1868)
Irene Worth CBE (1916-2002), American actress
H. M. Worth, American discoverer of Worth syndrome genetic disorder
George Worth (1915-2006), American three-time gold, two-time silver and bronze medalist fencer
Bobby Worth (1912-2002), American songwriter
... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Worth family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Miss Linda Worth (1905-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 14

Citations +

Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SEA PARK 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/seapark1852.shtml
South Australian Register Thursday 29th June 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Trafalgar 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/trafalgar1854.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx