1510s, "act of rearing a young person," from up, adv. + bringing (see bring, v.). Mainly in Scottish in 16c.; in general use from c.1870, according to OED. A verb upbring (past participle upbrought) was in Middle English in a sense "raise, rear, bring up, nurture" (c.1300), but in Middle English upbringing is attested only as "act of introducing" (c.1400).