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Wordsworth Family History

Wordsworth Surname Meaning

Bardsley suggests that it is a variant of Wadsworth noting that at Silkstone (WR Yorks) the surname appears as Waddysworth (1556) Wardsworth (1656) Wadsworth (1666) and Wordsworth (from 1668). The link has been confirmed by DNA research in which one rare haplotype was shared among some Wadsworths and some Wordsworths.

Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames however argues that the documentary evidence points firmly to it being a variant of Wardleworth. He notes that Adam de World(es)worth of Barnsley in 1394 is linked by a deed to the Wordsworth family in Penistone (WR Yorks) 1398-1401 and cites Nicholas de Wordulworth of Penistone in 1408.

It is possible therefore that Wadsworth itself is sometimes a variant of Wardleworth.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Wordsworth family from?

You can see how Wordsworth families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Wordsworth family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Wordsworth families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 222 Wordsworth families living in Yorkshire. This was about 66% of all the recorded Wordsworth's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Wordsworth families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Wordsworth surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Wordsworth ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Wordsworth. 17% of Wordsworth men worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties and 74% of Wordsworth women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Wordsworth were Bricklayer and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Wordsworth | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    17%
  • Wire Drawer
    11%
  • Bank Cashier
    9%
  • Bricklayer
    9%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Household Duties
    3%

What Wordsworth family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 22,000 census records available for the last name Wordsworth. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Wordsworth census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Wordsworth

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Wordsworth. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 741 military records available for the last name Wordsworth. For the veterans among your Wordsworth ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Wordsworth lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2003, in the United States, Wordsworth life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1980. The average life expectancy for Wordsworth in 1960 was 37, and 82 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Wordsworth

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Wordsworth ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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