NameCensus.

UK surname

Upjohn

A locational surname likely derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 135 people recorded with the Upjohn surname, ranking it #16,515 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 163, ranked #22,407, down from #16,515 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Eccles and Battersea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hillingdon, East Lindsey and Waverley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Upjohn is 201 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.7%.

1881 census count

135

Ranked #16,515

Modern count

163

2016, ranked #22,407

Peak year

1999

201 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Upjohn had 135 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,515 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016, ranked #22,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 168 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Upjohn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Upjohn surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Upjohn 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 158 #12,461
1861 historical 112 #19,279
1881 historical 135 #16,515
1891 historical 143 #18,920
1901 historical 168 #16,886
1911 historical 168 #16,620
1997 modern 187 #18,398
1998 modern 195 #18,397
1999 modern 201 #18,179
2000 modern 201 #18,152
2001 modern 188 #18,652
2002 modern 196 #18,535
2003 modern 183 #19,152
2004 modern 179 #19,523
2005 modern 163 #20,627
2006 modern 167 #20,447
2007 modern 167 #20,719
2008 modern 175 #20,311
2009 modern 181 #20,277
2010 modern 185 #20,453
2011 modern 175 #21,035
2012 modern 166 #21,683
2013 modern 175 #21,320
2014 modern 171 #21,812
2015 modern 167 #22,066
2016 modern 163 #22,407

Geography

Back to top

Where Upjohns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Eccles, Battersea and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hillingdon, East Lindsey, Waverley, Three Rivers and Southwark. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Eccles Lancashire
4 Battersea London (South Districts)
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hillingdon 019 Hillingdon
2 East Lindsey 007 East Lindsey
3 Waverley 005 Waverley
4 Three Rivers 012 Three Rivers
5 Southwark 031 Southwark

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Upjohn

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Upjohn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Upjohn, 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 Upjohn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Upjohn 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Upjohn is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Upjohn is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Upjohn 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 Upjohn 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 Upjohn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Upjohn

The surname Upjohn has its origins in England, specifically dating back to the medieval period. The name is most commonly associated with the West Country, particularly in the counties of Somerset and Devon. It is believed to have derived from a baptismal or personal name, indicating 'son of John.' The prefix "Up" in the name Upjohn comes from the Old English 'upp,' signifying something along the lines of ‘above’ or ‘up.’ Thus, the name suggests being 'son of John from the upper lands or regions,' differentiating from those living in lower parts of the area.

Old records indicate variations and similar spellings like "Uponjohn" or "Upjohns.” One notable early record is a "Richard Upjohn" from Somerset, documented in the early 16th century. The name appears to have grown in usage and spelling standardization around this time, with consistent references found in parish records and legal documents.

Historically, the Upjohn family held a presence in various parish registers and wills. In 1588, a William Upjohn is recorded in Devon, further solidifying the roots of the name in the southwest of England. The consistent appearance in these regions suggests the family was well-established and likely part of the agrarian or local tradesmen community.

Notable figures bearing the surname Upjohn include Richard Upjohn (1802–1878), an English-born architect who emigrated to the United States and profoundly influenced Gothic Revival architecture. Another significant individual is Dr. William E. Upjohn (1853–1932), the founder of The Upjohn Pharmaceutical Company. His contributions to medicine and pharmaceuticals were vital in the development of easily dosable medicine forms like tablets.

Further historical references include Jane Upjohn, baptized in 1614 in Dorset, indicating the spread and lineage continuation of the surname in neighboring counties. James Upjohn, noted in a 17th-century legal document from Taunton, Somerset, is another example showing the enduring presence and economic activity of the family through different eras.

Additionally, a remarkable individual named Thomas Upjohn served as Mayor of Poole in 1652. His civic involvement underscores the family's active participation in both local governance and community affairs, highlighting a lineage of public service.

Throughout history, the surname Upjohn has maintained its association with the West Country of England and has been borne by individuals contributing significantly to their communities, whether in medieval agrarian society or modern industrial advancements. The name continues to be a testament to its rich historical legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Upjohn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Upjohn 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. Middlesex leads with 46 Upjohns recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.49x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 46 3.49x
Dorset 25 28.93x
Surrey 24 3.74x
Buckinghamshire 7 8.79x
Lancashire 6 0.38x
Glamorgan 5 2.18x
Yorkshire 5 0.38x
Durham 4 1.02x
Wiltshire 4 3.44x
Hampshire 3 1.11x
Kent 2 0.45x
Lanarkshire 1 0.23x
Northumberland 1 0.51x
Sussex 1 0.45x
Warwickshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Battersea in Surrey leads with 18 Upjohns recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.15x.

Place Total Index
Battersea 18 37.15x
Hackney London 12 16.26x
Shaftesbury Holy Trinity 10 2222.22x
St Clement Danes 7 328.64x
Upton Cum Chalvey 7 220.82x
Lyme Regis 6 582.52x
Paddington London 6 12.39x
Shaftesbury St James 6 1333.33x
St George Hanover 6 34.90x
Worsley 6 62.31x
Mortlake 5 174.83x
Scarborough 5 42.16x
Gateshead 4 13.64x
Islington London 4 3.13x
Ystradyfodwg 4 19.89x
Shoreditch London 3 5.26x
Tottenham 3 14.31x
Durrington 2 1111.11x
Iwerne Courtnay 2 344.83x
Plumstead 2 13.36x
Southampton All Sts 2 43.20x
St Pancras London 2 1.89x
Acton 1 12.95x
Barnes 1 36.90x
Birmingham 1 0.90x
Bothwell 1 8.66x
Droxford 1 97.09x
Fisherton Anger 1 46.30x
Hastings St Mary 1 18.12x
Kensington London 1 1.37x
Netheravon 1 384.62x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 8.55x
Roath 1 9.61x
Spetisbury 1 416.67x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 75.76x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
Thomas 7
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Frank 3
George 3
Henry 3
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
John 2
Richard 2
Tom 2
Albert 1
Alfd. 1
Ambrose 1
Charles 1
Edgar 1
Edwd. 1
Edwd.W. 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Guy 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Mary 1
Nicholas 1
Robert 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Upjohn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Upjohn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 135 people were recorded with the Upjohn surname. That placed it at #16,515 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Upjohn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016. That gives Upjohn a modern rank of #22,407.

What does the Upjohn surname mean?

A locational surname likely derived from a place name in England.

What does the Upjohn map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Upjohn 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.