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

Updike, 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 Updike surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Updike in America

Updike is the 10829th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Updike surname appeared 2,941 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Updike.

We can also compare 2010 data for Updike 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 Updike

The surname UPDIKE is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "uppe" meaning "upon" and "dīc" meaning "a ditch or embankment". It likely originated as a topographic name referring to someone who lived near a raised embankment or dike.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, particularly in counties like Suffolk and Norfolk. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Updike, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines records for Suffolk in 1258.

Another early reference to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a Richard Updike. The name also appeared in the Subsidy Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1327, listing a John Updyke.

Variations in the spelling of the name were common in early records, with forms like Upedike, Updyke, and Updike being used interchangeably. Some of these variations were likely influenced by local dialects and the pronunciation of the name in different regions.

One notable bearer of the UPDIKE surname was John Updike (1932-2009), an American novelist, poet, short story writer, and critic. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential writers of the 20th century, known for works such as the Rabbit series, The Centaur, and The Witches of Eastwick.

Another individual of historical significance was Wilkins Updike (1790-1867), an American typographer and printer who is credited with reviving interest in the design and production of high-quality printed materials in the 19th century. His work played a significant role in the development of modern printing techniques.

Clive Updike (1898-1984) was a British historian and author, known for his biographies of notable figures such as Samuel Johnson and Benjamin Disraeli. He was also a respected academic and held positions at various universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

The UPDIKE surname has also been associated with notable individuals in other fields, such as William Updike (1860-1940), an American businessman and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts.

While the UPDIKE name originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, through migration and immigration over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Updike

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

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

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

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