 John Worlidge was the eldest son (of ten children) born to John Worlidge, a Petersfield lawyer, and Anne Yalden.Anne, in turn, was the youngest daughter of William and Rose Yalden.William Yalden (d. 1644) was an estate manager at Petersfield, while Rose (d. 1652) was the older sister of the botanist John Goodyer (1592–1664).