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

Updegrave, 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 Updegrave surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Updegrave in America

Updegrave is the 88685th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Updegrave surname appeared 209 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 Updegrave.

We can also compare 2010 data for Updegrave 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 Updegrave

The surname Updegrave has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "up" meaning "upper" and "graefe" meaning "grove" or "small wood." This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near or owned an upper grove or elevated woodland area.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk from 1166, where a certain William de Updegrave is listed. This indicates that the name was already in use by the 12th century, and the "de" prefix signifies that it was likely a locational surname, referring to a particular place.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a Roger de Upgrave, possibly from the same family line. The slight variation in spelling was common in those times, reflecting regional dialects and the inconsistencies of written records.

The Updegrave name appears to have been particularly prevalent in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, where several families bearing the name were landowners and involved in local affairs. One notable figure was John Updegrave, who served as the Mayor of Norwich in 1455.

Another person of note was Robert Updegrave, a merchant and alderman in London during the 16th century. He was born in 1520 and passed away in 1583, leaving behind a considerable fortune and several properties in the city.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Updegrave family settled in the village of Ridgewell, Essex. One of their descendants, Reverend John Updegrave (1662-1737), was a respected clergyman and author, publishing several theological works during his lifetime.

The Updegraves continued to play a role in various professions and disciplines over the centuries. Notable figures include Sir William Updegrave (1795-1867), a distinguished British naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars, and Emily Updegrave (1868-1942), an American painter and illustrator renowned for her depictions of New England landscapes.

While the name may have evolved in spelling and geographic distribution over time, its origins can be traced back to the medieval English countryside, where the Updegraves likely resided in elevated groves or woodlands, contributing to the rich tapestry of British surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Updegrave

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

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

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

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