Surname Northrup - Meaning and Origin
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Northrup: What does the surname Northrup mean?
The last name Northrup is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is a locational surname, meaning it was originally given to a person who lived in or was from a certain place. Specifically, Northrup is derived from a place called Northorpe in the counties of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire in England. The place name Northorpe is in turn derived from the Old English words "norþ", meaning north, and "þorp", meaning village or settlement. Therefore, the surname Northrup essentially means "from the north village." It is important to note that over centuries, surname spellings can change significantly, and Northrup may have numerous variations including Northrop, Northerop, Northupp and others. As with many surnames, there may be different lineages with the Northrup surname, not all of which share immediate common ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisNorthrup: Where does the name Northrup come from?
The last name Northrup is believed to have originated in Britain. It is most common in the United States today. From the 2020 US census data, it was ranked as the 9,281st most common surname.
In the United States, the Northrup name is most common in the state of New Jersey. Other US states, such as Maine, Connecticut, and New York, also have a relatively higher population of people with this last name.
Outside of the United States, the surname is sustained in communities in England, Australia, Canada, and France. It is also common in some parts of South Africa and Ireland.
For those in the United States, the surname can be traced back to an early migration from Britain to the 13 colonies. It is estimated that the original Northrups arrived in the US in the 1600s and 1700s.
Since then, the name has spread across America as the descendants of the original Northrups found new homes. It is likely that almost all Americans who bear this last name are direct descendants of the original family.
Variations of the surname Northrup
The surname Northrup has many variations and different spellings. Some of the most common variants are Northrup, Northrop, Nortrup, Northrope, Northropp, Nordrup, Nordrop, Nordrope, Nordropp, Northrop, Novathrump, Northropp, and Novathropp.
Northrup is an English topographical surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It derived from the Old English words 'nort' and 'hrop' which meant a wet area or a group of rivers. The surname may have been used to identify those who lived by a particularly wet (or humid) piece of land. The surname is thought to be derived from the pre 7th century phrase 'aefter[s] the northrops'.
Multiple spellings of Northrup have been seen, including Northropp, Nortropp and Norrropp. Other surnames of the same origin include Nortrop, Nordrop, Nordropp, Norrthrop and Nocthrorp. The surname Northrup is thought to have been adopted in many different geographical locations, including the United States, Canada, Germany, and Ireland.
In some cases, Northrup has even been translated as a given name in some regions, including Nordorpp. This is also seen in other variations, such as Nordripp, Nordrippp and Norrtropp.
Overall, the Northrup surname has numerous variations and spellings which have likely arisen as a result of migration and relocation throughout the years. Many different surnames share a common origin with Northrup, testifying to the name’s longevity and widespread use throughout Britain and throughout other geographical regions.
Famous people with the name Northrup
- John F. Northrop, American aeronautical pioneer and aviation and missile designer.
- Grace Weydemeyer Northrup, daughter and heir of wealthy investor Russell Sage.
- Ruth Northrup Blodgett, a noted figure in New Haven, Connecticut, society.
- Miles Northrup, former St. Louis Blues hockey player
- John S. Northrup, former professor at Columbia University
- Bill Northrup, former free-lance newspaper reporter
- Simpson Northrup, businessman and seventeen-term United States Congressman from Connecticut
- Charles Curtis Northrup, former Governor of Nebraska
- Phil Northrup, former president of Western Stoneware Company
- Charles E. Northrop, American lawyer and politician