Find out how popular the last name Underdown is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Underdown.

Underdown, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Underdown surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Underdown in America

Underdown is the 34916th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Underdown surname appeared 646 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Underdown.

We can also compare 2010 data for Underdown to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Underdown

The surname Underdown is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It derives from the Old English words "under" and "dun," which together signify a location near or beneath a hill or down.

Underdown is a locational surname, indicating that the earliest bearers of this name likely hailed from a place called Underdown, situated at the base of a hill. Such toponymic surnames were commonplace during the Middle Ages, as they helped distinguish individuals from different localities.

The earliest recorded instances of the Underdown surname date back to the 13th century. In 1273, a William de Underdon was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire, while a John de Underdon appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. The variations in spelling, such as "Underdon" and "Undredon," were typical of the era before standardized spelling conventions.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Sir John Underdown (c. 1520-1572), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset in 1558 and played a role in suppressing the Prayer Book Rebellion in the West Country.

Another individual of note was Thomas Underdown (1645-1696), an English clergyman and author who served as Rector of St. Mary Redcliffe in Bristol. He published several theological works, including "A Defence of the Doctrine of the Church of England" in 1689.

In the 17th century, the Underdown surname also appeared in colonial America. Robert Underdown (c. 1630-1711) was among the early settlers in Hingham, Massachusetts, arriving from England in the 1630s. His descendants went on to establish themselves in various parts of New England.

Moving into the 18th century, William Underdown (1761-1832) was a prominent British architect who designed several notable buildings in Bath, including the Cleveland Bridge and the Edgar Buildings. His works contributed significantly to the city's Georgian architectural heritage.

The Underdown name has also been associated with various locations across England, such as Underdown Farm in Devon, Underdown House in Somerset, and the hamlet of Underdown in Gloucestershire. These place names serve as reminders of the surname's locational origins and its enduring presence throughout the country's history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Underdown

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Underdown.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Underdown was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Underdown has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Underdown was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Underdown, please contact us.

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