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

Upward, 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 Upward surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Upward in America

Upward is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Upward surname appeared 100 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 Upward.

The history of the last name Upward

The surname Upward is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "uppeweard" which means "upward" or "directed towards the higher part." It first emerged as a descriptive surname, likely referring to someone who lived at a higher elevation or on a hill.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to the late 13th century in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where a Richard Upward was mentioned in 1275. The name also appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, with a John Upward listed as a resident.

During the medieval period, the Upward surname was predominantly concentrated in the West Midlands region of England, particularly in Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. This suggests that the name may have originated in this area before gradually spreading to other parts of the country.

One notable early bearer of the name was John Upward, who was listed as a landowner in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1334. Another early example is William Upward, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1379.

The Upward surname has also been linked to various place names, such as Upward Hill in Worcestershire and Upward Green in Shropshire. These place names likely influenced the development and spread of the surname in those regions.

Amongst the notable individuals bearing the Upward surname throughout history are:

1. Thomas Upward (c.1590-1672), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Olave's Church in Hart Street, London.

2. Edward Upward (1903-2009), a British writer and novelist known for his works such as "The Rotten Elements" and "The Railway Accident."

3. Allen Upward (1863-1926), an English writer and critic who was a prominent figure in the early 20th century literary scene.

4. Graham Upward (1926-2012), a British engineer and inventor who developed the Upward Curve, a design principle for improving the aerodynamics of vehicles.

5. John Upward (1789-1853), an English engraver and illustrator who produced works for various publications, including the Gentleman's Magazine.

While the Upward surname may not be as prevalent as some others, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the English language and culture, spanning several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Upward

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

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 Upward 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.

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

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

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