1834 in reference to convulsions in society; 1836 in geology, from verb upheave (c. 1300, from up (adv.) + heave (v.)) + -al (2). Similarly formed verbs are Old Frisian upheva, Old High German ufhevan, German aufheben.
*uper
upfield
upfront
upgather
upgrade
upheaval
upheld
uphill
uphold
upholster
upholsterer