Wadsworth is an English surname and given name of Old English origin, derived from 'Wadu', meaning 'wader' or 'one who goes through water', and 'worth', meaning 'enclosure'. It was originally a descriptive nickname for someone who lived by or worked on land that was wet or marshy. The name was first recorded as a forename in the 13th century, but it is more commonly found as a surname. Throughout history, Wadsworth has been associated with various notable figures, including American statesman Noah Webster and English poet Alfred Noyes.
The name Wadsworth experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a peak of 9 births in 1921 and a significant gap between 1923 and 1925 with no reported births. The total number of births recorded for this name between 1913 and 1944 is 76.