Upton Family of Newcastle West, Limerick

Posted on by Sharon Slater

From Newcastle West, Limerick home of Poet, Author, Patriot: William Cleary Upton to the rest of the world

Searching for the Upton Clan, we were asked by a member of the Upton family to create a one stop shop for those called Upton and their descendants. From Newcastle West, Limerick home of Poet, Author, Patriot: William Cleary Upton to the rest of the world. The family history goes back a millennia to to Thomas/ John Uppeton de Uppeton (1101-1140) Upton Castle, Lewannick Cornwall England. The name has been recorded as Upton, L’Uppeton, and L’Upton. By 1694 a branch of the family had taken up residence in Newcastlewest, Limerick, while others branches spread far and wide throughout the world.

In England the number of Uptons recorded on the census returns had jumped from 178 in 1841 to 7677 in 1911. With the most common forenames being William, John and Mary throughout the decades.

The family are noted in history founding churches such as St Gregory’s Church near Sedbergh which was constructed in the 1860s. John Upton (1707–1760) was an important early editor of Edmund Spenser, who is best known for the notes in his 1758 edition of Spenser’s great romance epic The Faerie Queene, which was first published in 1590. James Upton (3 May 1888 – 10 August 1949) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Only 1,356 were ever awarded.

The Upton motto is Semper paratus – Always Prepared.

As an ancient family their history has been recorded many times over, below are links to some of these books and articles on the Upton family many of which you can download and read at your leisure.

Genealogy and parish records:

Upton’s of Note:

Upton on the Internet:

 

Upton Family Stately Homes Timeline:

Location Time Period
Upton Castle, Lewannick, Cornwall C.1101- C.1400
Trelaske Manor House,Lewannick, Cornwall C.1400-1709
Olde Puslinch Farm House, Puslinch/Yealmpton, Devon 1400-Present
Lupton House,Brixham, Devon 1408/9 -1755
Isle of Wight (16 locations) 1540 1740
Puslinch House, Devon 1709 – Present
Ingmire Hall,Sedbergh, Westmoreland, Cumbria 1660, 1710-1920
Aston Court, Bristol C.1800 – C. 1900
Newcastle West, Limerick C.1694 – Present
Castle Upton,Templepatrick, Co.Antrim C.1611 – C.1980s
American Colonies/U.S.A 1622 – Present

Early Settlers to America:

  • John Upton – Virginia 1623
  • John Upton – Massachusetts 1652
  • Dorothy Upton – Virginia 1654
  • Peter Upton – Virginia 1664
  • Grace Upton – Maryland 1670

Places Named Upton

The place name originates from the Old English pre 7th Century word “up” meaning “upper or above”, and “tun”, a farm or settlement. This may have been a reference to higher ground, and therefore perhaps a place used for summer grazing, or it may have been a status name for a more important farm or settlement. There are various places called Upton, in the counties of Cheshire, Devonshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Essex, and Worcestershire.

Places Called Upton in Books:

Please let us know if you have further information either by commenting on this post, or by posting in the Upton Section in our forum or by emailing Mark Upton,  4114Fairview (at) Comcast.net