NameCensus.

UK surname

Caires

A Portuguese surname possibly derived from a topographic designation referring to quarries or stone.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lambeth, Lewisham and Wandsworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Caires is 113 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

2015

113 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 27 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Caires surname distribution map

The map shows where the Caires surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Caires surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Caires over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1 #33,412
1861 historical 27 #30,543
1891 historical 24 #32,320
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 49 #32,776
1998 modern 57 #32,226
1999 modern 62 #31,893
2000 modern 67 #31,473
2001 modern 61 #31,891
2002 modern 68 #31,626
2003 modern 63 #32,152
2004 modern 60 #32,684
2005 modern 65 #32,387
2006 modern 67 #32,532
2007 modern 70 #32,580
2008 modern 79 #31,957
2009 modern 88 #31,352
2010 modern 89 #31,745
2011 modern 88 #31,801
2012 modern 104 #29,543
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 113 #28,645
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Caires' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lambeth, Lewisham and Wandsworth. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lambeth 013 Lambeth
2 Lewisham 001 Lewisham
3 Lambeth 018 Lambeth
4 Lambeth 022 Lambeth
5 Wandsworth 001 Wandsworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Caires

These lists show first names that appear often with the Caires surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Caires

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Caires, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Caires surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Caires household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Caires is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Caires is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Caires falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Caires is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Caires, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Caires

The surname Caires is believed to have originated in Portugal, with the earliest records dating back to the 14th century. It is thought to be derived from the Portuguese word "cair," which means "to fall." This could potentially indicate that the name was originally given to someone who lived near a cliff or steep incline.

One of the earliest known references to the name Caires can be found in a document from 1387, which mentions a person named João Caires living in the town of Évora, located in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal. This region was known for its hilly terrain, lending credence to the theory that the name originated from the word "cair."

In the 15th century, records show a man named Diogo Caires who was a prominent merchant in Lisbon. He was involved in the lucrative spice trade with the East Indies and is believed to have amassed a considerable fortune during his lifetime (c. 1420-1487).

During the Age of Exploration, the name Caires appeared in documents related to Portuguese exploration and colonization efforts. For example, in 1524, a man named Bartolomeu Caires was listed as one of the settlers who accompanied the explorer Pedro Mascarenhas to Brazil.

Another notable individual with the surname Caires was Manuel Caires (1658-1734), a Portuguese architect who was responsible for designing several churches and other buildings in the Baroque style, including the Igreja da Misericórdia in Évora.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure with the surname Caires was José Caires (1817-1892), a politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Portuguese parliament and was known for his advocacy of liberal reforms.

Over time, the surname Caires has spread to other parts of the world, particularly to countries with significant Portuguese immigration, such as Brazil, the United States, and Canada. However, its origins can be traced back to the hills and valleys of Portugal, where the name first emerged centuries ago.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Caires surname: questions and answers

How common is the Caires surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Caires a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Caires surname mean?

A Portuguese surname possibly derived from a topographic designation referring to quarries or stone.

What does the Caires map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Caires bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.