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

Upcraft, 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 Upcraft surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Upcraft in America

Upcraft is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Upcraft surname appeared 115 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 Upcraft.

We can also compare 2010 data for Upcraft 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 Upcraft

The surname Upcraft is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "upp" meaning "up" and "cræft" meaning "craft" or "skill." It is believed to have emerged as an occupational surname in the Middle Ages, referring to a skilled craftsman or artisan who worked at an elevated workplace, such as an upper chamber or workshop.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the late 13th century, with entries in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk from 1273 and the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield from 1275, both mentioning individuals with variations of the surname Upcraft or Upcrafte.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Register of the Freemen of the City of York from 1301, where a certain John Upcrafte was listed as a freeman and member of the guild of weavers. This suggests that the Upcraft family had established roots in the city of York and were involved in the textile trade.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Upcroft, a yeoman from the village of Westhoughton in Lancashire, who was mentioned in the Court Leet Records of 1428. This spelling variation, Upcroft, likely derived from the same occupational origins but with a slight alteration in the suffix.

During the 16th century, the Upcraft name appeared in various church records and parish registers across England, particularly in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Yorkshire. Notable individuals from this era include Thomas Upcraft, a merchant from Norwich who was mentioned in the city's records in 1587, and John Upcraft, a farmer from the village of Walpole in Norfolk, whose will was recorded in 1598.

In the 17th century, the surname gained prominence with the birth of Christopher Upcraft, a renowned English painter and engraver who lived from 1634 to 1706. His works, which included portraits and religious scenes, can be found in various collections across Britain and Europe.

Another noteworthy figure was Robert Upcraft, a prominent lawyer and member of the Inner Temple in London, who was born in 1670 and played a significant role in several high-profile legal cases during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

As the centuries progressed, the Upcraft surname continued to spread across various regions of England, with branches of the family establishing themselves in counties such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire. While the name has remained relatively uncommon, it has persisted throughout history, with various individuals bearing the surname making contributions in fields such as art, law, and agriculture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Upcraft

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

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 Upcraft 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 Upcraft 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 Upcraft was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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