Surname Southworth - Meaning and Origin

Southworth: What does the surname Southworth mean?

The name Southworth is of English origin and is believed to be a geographical surname. The name derives from Old English words "sūþ" meaning "south" and "worþ" meaning "enclosure," "homestead," or "estate". So, the name could indicate a family that resided in the southern part of an estate or in a homestead located to the south. The name Southworth likely originated from the town of Southworth in Cheshire, England, and has been in use since at least the 13th century. Like many surnames, it probably started being used to distinguish a particular family group, and then carried down through the generations. It is a historical representation of their ancestry and location.

Southworth: Where does the name Southworth come from?

The last name Southworth is historically an English surname, and is still fairly common in all English-speaking countries, but particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. There are still quite a few Southworths living in England, primarily in the Greater London area or in towns in the Northwest and South England, especially Devon and Cornwall. In the United States, the last name Southworth is still quite widespread, primarily in the Northeast and Midwestern parts of the country. The most populous regions for Southworths in America are Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Washington, New York, Ohio, and Michigan. The name is also common in Canada, particularly in the provinces of Ontario and Nova Scotia, and in Australia, where it clusters around the big cities like Sydney and Melbourne. Other Southworths may be found in Ireland and many countries in Europe, where the surname was carried by families who migrated from Britain. Southworths have also made their mark around the world, living in such countries as Mexico, South Africa, India, Chile, and the Philippines.

Variations of the surname Southworth

The surname Southworth is an ancient name of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the Middle English personal name Southword, which in turn is derived from the Old English personal name Southweard. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Southwood, Southward, Southwarde, Suthward, Suthwood, Sutward, Sufforth, Suterorth, Swuttworth and Swutforth.

Southwood is the variant with the closest spelling to the original Southworth; it is believed to have arisen from a slight corruption of the original name, which was likely influenced by the similar-sounding word 'wood.' Southward is the most common variant; it is believed to originate from the Middle English word 'Southwolde,' which was used to denote someone who lived in the area south of the city of London. Southwarde is the third most common variant, and it likely originated from those bearing the Southward surname.

Suthward is another variant, likely arising from the Middle English word 'sudweard,' which was a form of composite given name combining 'south' with 'ward or guardian.' Suthwood is a variant similar to Southwood, likely arising from the same slight corruption of the name. Sutward, Sufforth, Suterorth, Swuttworth and Swutforth are the less-familiar variants of this surname, all of which would have originated from slight corruptions of the original name.

Given the antiquity of the Southworth surname, there are potentially dozens of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Research of ancient records would likely reveal even more variants in the coming years.

Famous people with the name Southworth

• Emily Southworth: American actress, known for her roles in The Good Doctor, Grey’s Anatomy, and Private Practice.
• Skip Southworth: former Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, and Kansas City Royals.
• David Southworth: Canadian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and hotel developer.
• Bill Southworth: American basketball coach, best known for his work with both Princeton University and Lehigh University.
• Michael Southworth: English actor, playwright, director, and theatre historian.
• Robert Southworth: former professional basketball player for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.
• Steve Southworth: American contemporary artist, most noted for his photorealistic paintings.
• Matt Southworth: American guitarist for the band Flux Recordings.
• Justin Southworth: American comic book creator and artist.
• Billy Southworth Jr.: Major League Baseball manager, most notably managing the St. Louis Cardinals from 1975 to 1977.

Other surnames

Southwood