Surname Worthem - Meaning and Origin
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Worthem: What does the surname Worthem mean?
The last name Worthem is of English origin and is derived from the Old English name Wortham, meaning "enclosure near a settlement." This name can be traced back to 11th century England, and was popular in Yorkshire and parts of the Midlands. Over the centuries the name has seen many spelling variations, including Woorham, Woorhim, Worton, Wortingham, Wothingham, Witheram, Whytheram, Wooton, Worthem, and Wortham.
The surname Worthem is an occupational name in origin and was probably a reference to a person who worked in or managed a large enclosed area close to a settlement. This enclosed area might have been part of an extensive estate that provided resources such as food, livestock, manure or timber to the local community. It is possible that these resources were managed by a family who held the surname Worthem.
In more modern times, the surname Worthem has spread throughout North America and people with this surname can be found in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and parts of Europe. It is a relatively uncommon surname, which may reflect its limited geographical spread and prevalence in the medieval period.
The title of Baron Worthem was granted to a branch of the Worthem family in 1771 when John Worthem was created Baron Worthem of Kirkham in Yorkshire. This title is still held by the family today and the current Baron, the 5th Baron Worthem, is still based in Yorkshire.
Order DNA origin analysisWorthem: Where does the name Worthem come from?
The last name Worthem is not overly common, but there have been sightings of the name worldwide. In the United States, Worthem is most commonly found in the southern states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. It is also present in the Carolinas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Outside the United States, Worthem has been found in South Africa, Australia, and Canada. Most of the Worthem families outside the United States have some connection to a family from the southern states. According to Ancestry.com, the Worthem name is of English, Scottish, or Irish origin and is derived from the English word “wort”, which means root or herb.
The most common spelling of the Worthem surname is Worthem, though other variations such as Wortham, Worthim, and Wortheim are also used. It is often confused with the surname Wortham, but the two names are unrelated.
The Worthem name can be found in records of US bankruptcy, immigration, land deeds, marriage certificates, census data, military service records, and more. If you know of someone with the last name Worthem, their family may have roots that go back several generations in the United States.
Variations of the surname Worthem
The surname Worthem has its origins in multiple cultures around the world, tracing back to Old English, Germanic, Asian and Spanish roots. Each of these origins has its own variant spelling of the surname. In English, the most common variant spelling of Worthem is Wordham, with the letter “d” replaced with a “t”. This spelling is most commonly seen in England, Wales, and Scotland.
The Germanic form of the surname is Wortheim, which is the most prevalent form in Germany. Other Germanic spellings include Woortheim, Wortheem, and Wortheym.
The Asian variant of the surname is Wuerthem, which has often been found in China. This spelling may also be seen as Wuerthem, Wuertheem, Wuertheym, and Wuortheim.
Outside of these major variations, there are many other minor variant spellings such as Wortheam, Woertham, Wurthen, Waarthen, Wortham, Werthem, Wortham, Wurtham, Wurthem, and Wortemon.
In addition to the spelling variants of Worthem, there are many surnames of the same origin. The most common surnames are Wordham, Wortheim, Wuerthem, Woortheim, and Wuertheym. Others include Wortheam, Wordom, Waarthen, Worthom, Werthem, Wortham, Wurtham, Wurthem, and Wortemon.
Famous people with the name Worthem
- Roy Worthem: professional basketball player in the 1940s.
- Jack Worthem: Contemporary American sculptor.
- David Worthem: Contemporary American photographer.
- George Worthem: Historical Canadian blacksmith.
- Val Worthem: Professional hockey player in the 1930s.
- Colton Worthem: Country musician, known for his hit single ‘Just a Memory.’
- Brett Worthem: Contemporary American illustrator.
- Jim Worthem: Professional football player in the 1950s.
- Quentin Worthem: Contemporary American painter.
- Chris Worthem: Former Canadian politician and businessman.
- Kristina Worthem: Professional tennis player in the 1980s.
- Jason Worthem: Contemporary American actor.
- Brian Worthem: Former National Hockey League player.
- John Worthem: Early-20th century American author.
- Augustus Worthem: Former U.S. Representative from Mississippi.
- Amelia Worthem: Contemporary American actress.
- Thomas Worthem: Historical American settler of Kentucky.
- Stephen Worthem: Former British politician.
- Paul Worthem: Historical American theater owner and producer.
- Michelle Worthem: Professional figure skater in the 1990s.