NameCensus.

UK surname

Upham

A habitational surname indicating someone from a homestead or village on an upland or high area.

In the 1881 census there were 394 people recorded with the Upham surname, ranking it #8,055 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 408, ranked #11,711, down from #8,055 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torbay, Mid Devon and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Upham is 523 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.6%.

1881 census count

394

Ranked #8,055

Modern count

408

2016, ranked #11,711

Peak year

1911

523 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Upham had 394 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,055 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 408 in 2016, ranked #11,711.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 523 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Upham surname distribution map

The map shows where the Upham surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Upham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Upham over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 300 #7,650
1861 historical 301 #8,412
1881 historical 394 #8,055
1891 historical 413 #8,638
1901 historical 455 #8,641
1911 historical 523 #7,566
1997 modern 411 #10,782
1998 modern 439 #10,602
1999 modern 441 #10,631
2000 modern 436 #10,701
2001 modern 420 #10,811
2002 modern 418 #11,084
2003 modern 404 #11,191
2004 modern 412 #11,029
2005 modern 403 #11,120
2006 modern 409 #11,032
2007 modern 404 #11,290
2008 modern 401 #11,441
2009 modern 402 #11,682
2010 modern 411 #11,723
2011 modern 410 #11,644
2012 modern 398 #11,755
2013 modern 408 #11,740
2014 modern 412 #11,743
2015 modern 413 #11,622
2016 modern 408 #11,711

Geography

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Where Uphams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) and Hill Farrance, Oake, Nynehead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torbay, Mid Devon, Teignbridge, South Cambridgeshire and Taunton Deane. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Hill Farrance, Oake, Nynehead Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torbay 017 Torbay
2 Mid Devon 006 Mid Devon
3 Teignbridge 003 Teignbridge
4 South Cambridgeshire 012 South Cambridgeshire
5 Taunton Deane 012 Taunton Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Upham

These lists show first names that appear often with the Upham surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Upham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Upham, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Upham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Upham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Upham is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Upham is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Upham falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Upham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Upham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Upham

The surname Upham originates from England and is believed to have derived from the Old English words "upp" and "ham," meaning "upper homestead" or "dwelling on higher ground." This name is associated with several places in Hampshire, such as Upper Upham and Nether Upham, indicating that the surname likely originated from these locations.

The earliest recorded spelling of the surname Upham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Opham" and "Oppam." This medieval record suggests that the name has been in use since at least the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Upham was William de Upham, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1202. Another early record is that of Roger de Upham, who was listed in the Hundred Rolls of Hampshire in 1273.

In the 14th century, John Upham was mentioned in the Corpus Christi Guild Records of York in 1369. During the same period, the surname appeared in various forms, including "Uppham," "Opham," and "Uppeham," reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation.

Notable individuals with the surname Upham include:

1. Sir John Upham (c. 1420-1481), an English politician and lawyer who served as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1469 to 1481.

2. Edward Upham (1776-1834), an American author and educator who served as the president of the New Hampshire Senate in 1829.

3. Caroline Upham Carleton (1808-1888), an American author and philanthropist known for her works on social reform and women's rights.

4. Thomas Cogswell Upham (1799-1872), an American philosopher and author who served as the president of Wabash College and the University of Vermont.

5. William Upham (1792-1853), an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Vermont from 1841 to 1843.

The surname Upham has a long and well-documented history, with its roots dating back to medieval England. Over the centuries, individuals with this surname have made significant contributions in various fields, including law, politics, education, and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Upham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Upham surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 129 Uphams recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.12x.

County Total Index
Devon 129 16.12x
Somerset 113 18.27x
Middlesex 33 0.86x
Surrey 33 1.76x
Gloucestershire 23 3.05x
Glamorgan 14 2.09x
Monmouthshire 11 3.96x
Lancashire 6 0.13x
Sussex 6 0.93x
Hampshire 5 0.63x
Warwickshire 5 0.52x
Durham 4 0.35x
Berkshire 3 1.04x
Kent 3 0.23x
Cornwall 2 0.46x
Wiltshire 2 0.59x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.43x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brixham in Devon leads with 59 Uphams recorded in 1881 and an index of 636.46x.

Place Total Index
Brixham 59 636.46x
Spaxton 17 1404.96x
Battersea 16 11.31x
Stogumber 10 613.50x
Taunton St James 9 99.78x
Bishops Lydeard 8 506.33x
Bovey Tracey 8 285.71x
Tormoham 8 23.63x
Upper Llanvrechva 8 185.19x
Williton 8 386.47x
Bristol St James St Paul 7 27.86x
Halberton 7 376.34x
Llandaff 7 31.45x
Merthyr Tydfil 7 10.88x
St George Bloomsbury 7 31.75x
St Pancras London 7 2.26x
Clist Hydon 6 1666.67x
Salford 6 4.47x
Southwark St John 6 51.06x
Weston Super Mare 6 38.41x
Aston 5 1.87x
Bristol St James In 5 45.09x
Clifton 5 13.12x
Lydeard St Lawrence 5 724.64x
Rose Ash 5 746.27x
Rottingdean 5 226.24x
Bradford 4 655.74x
Bristol St George 4 11.47x
Brompton Ralph 4 714.29x
Dulverton 4 220.99x
Georgeham 4 396.04x
Hammersmith London 4 4.22x
Hillfarrance 4 714.29x
Kensington London 4 1.87x
Lambeth 4 1.19x
Littleham 4 68.38x
Oake 4 2857.14x
Pitminster 4 219.78x
Stranton 4 10.39x
Street 4 119.40x
Taunton St Mary 4 35.21x
Totnes 4 85.47x
Clapham 3 6.24x
Exeter St David 3 43.92x
Milverton 3 131.58x
Reading St Mary 3 12.98x
Silverton 3 179.64x
Wellington 3 35.76x
Withycombe Rawleigh 3 71.94x
Wiveliscombe 3 86.96x
Alton 2 33.67x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 2.82x
Ealing 2 5.82x
Greenwich 2 3.27x
Kew 2 183.49x
Paddington London 2 1.42x
Panteg 2 45.66x
Sithney 2 45.45x
St George Hanover 2 3.99x
Tolland 2 1111.11x
Aldershot 1 3.79x
Bridgewater 1 5.96x
Brighton 1 0.76x
Burnham 1 21.19x
Camberwell 1 0.41x
Castle Combe 1 153.85x
Crediton 1 13.19x
Croydon 1 0.96x
East Anstey 1 322.58x
East Stratton 1 222.22x
Exeter Heavitree 1 16.78x
Finchley 1 6.79x
Hubberston 1 55.87x
Sherwill 1 185.19x
Shoreditch London 1 0.60x
Stoke Canon 1 178.57x
Thorverton 1 81.97x
West Anstey 1 322.58x
Westminster St James 1 2.53x
Whimple 1 113.64x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Upham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 12
Eliza 10
Ann 9
Jane 9
Ellen 6
Maria 6
Susan 6
Annie 5
Catherine 5
Emma 5
Charlotte 4
Emily 4
Harriett 4
Louisa 4
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Ethel 3
Margaret 3
Anne 2
Bessie 2
Clara 2
Harriet 2
Martha 2
Sophia 2
Youpha 2
Dinah 1
Elizth 1
Emly 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriott 1
Henrietta 1
Hilda 1
Jemima 1
Jessy 1
Joan 1
John 1
Kate 1
Kezia 1
Lidia 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Lilly 1
Mabel 1
Marey 1
Maud 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Upham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 34
William 22
James 16
George 12
Henry 11
Thomas 11
Charles 7
Robert 7
Frederick 5
Albert 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Hugh 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Willm. 2
Beatrice 1
Bruce 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Edward 1
Elizabeth 1
Fredck. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.W. 1
Georg 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
J. 1
Joseph 1
Martin 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Montague 1
Nicholas 1
Percival 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Thos.W. 1
Timothy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Upham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Upham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 394 people were recorded with the Upham surname. That placed it at #8,055 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Upham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 408 in 2016. That gives Upham a modern rank of #11,711.

What does the Upham surname mean?

A habitational surname indicating someone from a homestead or village on an upland or high area.

What does the Upham map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Upham bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.