The Ancient History of the Distinguished Surname Northrup


The chronicles of England show the early records of the name Northrup to be derived from the Norman race. The name appears in England from about 1066 A.D., and its history is interwoven within the majestic tapestry which contains the history of Britain.

Professional researchers used such ancient manuscripts as the:
1) Domesday Book (compiled in 1086 by William the Conquerer)
2) the Ragman Rolls
3) the Wace Poem
4) the Honour Roll of the Battel Abbey
5) The Curia Regis
6) Pipe Rolls
7) The Falaise Roll
8) tax records
9) baptismals
10) family genealogies
11) local parish and church records
to establish that the first record of the name Northrup was found in Yorkshire where they were anciently seated as Lords of the Manor.

After the battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D., William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons.
It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews, and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family.

After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086 A.D., settling once and for all, who held which land.
He called the census the Domesday Book, indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time.
Hence, conjecturally, the Northrup surname is descended from the tenant of the medieval village of Northorpe, which was washed out to sea in early times. It was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086 A.D. when Walter held the village from Drogo de Beuvierre, a Norman Baron. The Northrup family is conjecturally decended from Walter of Northorpe.

The name Northrup occurred in many references, but from time to time, spellings included Northorpe, Northorp, Northrup, Northrupp, Northrop, Northropp, Northup, Northop, Northupp, Northopp, Norhope, Northope, and many others.
Scribes recorded and spelled the name as it sounded. It wasn't unlikely that a person would be born with one spelling, married with another spelling, and buried with a headstone which showed another spelling.


The Normans were commonly believed to be of French origin but, more accurately, they were of Viking origin. The Vikings landed in the Orkneys and Northern Scotland about the year 870 A.D., under their King, Stirgud the Stout.
Later, under their Earl, Thorfinn Rollo, they invaded France about 910 A.D.
The French King, Charles the Simple, after Rollo laid seige to Paris, finally conceded defeat and granted northern France to Rollo. Duke William, who invaded and defeated England in 1066 A.D., was descended from the first Duke Rollo of Normandy.


The surname Northrup emerged as a notable family name in the county of East Riding of Yorkshire where they were anciently seated.

During the time of the Norman Kings there were many feudal rebellions. Many barons were attainted (corrupted),

Northrop/Northrup : English Place Name...An old Danish word termination was - thorpe which designated 'outlying farmstead or hamlet' was corrupted into - throp and - thrup in early England. North-thorpe -- the north farm -- became Northrop and Northrup as an English place name.

traded their lands, and moved their families out of the royal influence, even into Scotland.
Reginald de Northorpe represented the first of the family on record in Yorkshire in 1219 A.D. Amongst the many branches of this name were the Northorps of Lincolnshire and Stephen de Northorp held lands in 1273 A.D. followed by Willhelmus a century later.
They later branched to Kent and Nottingham.
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Northrope of Yorkshire.

The surname Northrup contributed much to local politics and in affairs of England or Scotland.
During the 12th century many of these Norman families moved north to Scotland.
Later, in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries England was ravaged by religious and political conflict. The Monarchy, the Church, and Parliament fought for supremacy. The unrest caused many to think of distant lands.

In Ireland, settlers became known as the "Adventurers for land in Ireland". They "undertook" to keep the Protestant faith, occupying the lands of the Irish.

As early as 1172 A.D. branches of certain family surnames moved to Ireland with the invasion of Strongbow, Still more were encouraged to be a part of the Plantation of Ulster in the early 17th century.

Later, the Cromwellian settements moved other families. There is no evidence of the Northrup surname migrating to Ireland but this does not preclude individual migration.


The democratic way of life of the New World beckoned many. They sailed aboard the fleet of sailing ships known as the "White Sails".
Thus, Joseph Northrup one of the original founders of Milford, Connecticut enters the scenario.

In North America, migrants which could be considered a kinsman of the family name Northrup, or variable spellings of that same family name were included. Many settlers were recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe.

Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard fron Newfoundland, to Florida, and to the islands.
5 Northrupp families were in the early Boston settlements and 4 in Pennsylvania.
From the port of arrival settlers joined the wagon trains westward.

During the American War of Independence some declared their loyalty to the Crown and moved northward into Canada and became known as the United Empire Loyalists. One of them was Benajah Northrup (the author's 4th greatgrandfather). See Group One Lot #6.

Meanwhile, the Northrup family name was highly regarded in the social stream. There were many notables of this name, Northrup.
Many notable personalities of this name have contribute to the society on both sides of the Atlantic.

Northrup Lineage

Website created and maintained by:
Northrup Enterprises
Mount Dora, FL
E-Mail


powered by lycos Search: Tripod The Web