2000
#11,237
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,586
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.96
Rare Last name
Northup
A locational surname referring to someone who lived to the north of a town or village.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,901 Americans carry the last name Northup. That puts it at #11,833 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.85 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 118,150 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Northup surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.9K
1 in 118,150
Census rank
#11,833
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,530 bearers of the surname Northup in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.85 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 11833rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Northup, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.8%) and Two or More Races (4.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Northup
The surname Northup has its origins in England, and it is believed to have emerged during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old English words "norþ" and "hop," which collectively translate to "northern valley." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name likely resided in a northern valley or a region characterized by a valley situated in the northern part of the country.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Northup surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land ownership and taxation compiled in 1086 by order of King William the Conqueror. The name appears to have been spelled as "Northope" in this historical document, reflecting the linguistic evolution of the surname over time.
During the 13th century, the name Northup was associated with various place names in England, such as Northope in Shropshire and Northope in Gloucestershire. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname, further contributing to its regional variations.
One notable individual who bore the Northup surname was Sir John Northup (1470-1537), a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1512 and played a significant role in the city's commercial affairs during the Tudor period.
Another historically significant figure was Elizabeth Northup (1594-1672), a Puritan woman who immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 17th century. She was among the first settlers of the town of Ipswich and is recognized for her contributions to the establishment of the Puritan community in New England.
In the 18th century, William Northup (1720-1798) gained recognition as a skilled craftsman and furniture maker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His handcrafted pieces were highly sought after by the wealthy and influential families of the time, and some of his works are still preserved in museums today.
During the American Revolutionary War, Captain James Northup (1745-1823) served in the Continental Army and participated in several notable battles, including the Battle of Bunker Hill. His bravery and leadership earned him commendations from his superiors and contributed to the eventual success of the American cause.
In the realm of literature, the name Northup is associated with Solomon Northup (1808-1863), an African American man who was born free but was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1841. His autobiographical memoir, "Twelve Years a Slave," became a bestseller and provided a powerful firsthand account of the atrocities of slavery in the United States.
Through these examples, it is evident that the Northup surname has a rich history spanning several centuries and encompassing various regions, occupations, and notable individuals who have left an indelible mark on their respective fields and societies.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Northup
Among Census respondents with the surname Northup, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.8%) and Two or More Races (4.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Northup bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Northup surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.6% · 2,190
- Hispanic or Latino5.8% · 148
- Two or more races4.1% · 103
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.9% · 49
- Black or African American0.9% · 24
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 16
Timeline
Historical Census data for Northup
Northup appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#11,672
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,686
+100 bearers (+3.9%)
Per 100,000 0.91
Rank movement Down 435 places
2020
#11,833
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,530
-156 bearers (-5.8%)
Per 100,000 0.85
Rank movement Down 161 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #11,237 | 2,586 | 0.96 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #11,672 | 2,686 | 0.91 | +100 bearers (+3.9%) | Down 435 places |
| 2020 | #11,833 | 2,530 | 0.85 | -156 bearers (-5.8%) | Down 161 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Northup surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,672 | #11,833 | -1.4% |
| Count | 2,686 | 2,530 | -5.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.91 | 0.85 | -7.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Northup bearers went from 2,686 to 2,530 (-5.8% change). The surname moved down 161 positions in the national ranking, going from #11,672 to #11,833.
FAQ
Northup surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Northup?
Name Census estimates that about 2,901 living Americans carry the surname Northup. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 118,150 residents.
How common is Northup?
Northup ranks #11,833 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.85 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,530 people with the surname Northup. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,901), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.85 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.85 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Northup.
Has Northup become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Northup went from 2,686 recorded bearers to 2,530. That is a decrease of 156 (-5.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #11,672 to #11,833.
What does the Census say about the background of Northup?
Among Census respondents with the surname Northup, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.8%) and Two or More Races (4.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Northup in the 2020 Census, accounting for 86.6% (2,190 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Northup appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (86.6%), Hispanic (5.8%), Two or More Races (4.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Northup (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Northup mean?
A locational surname referring to someone who lived to the north of a town or village. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Northup (0.85 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Northup?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.