UK surname
A topographic surname derived from a place in France, possibly referring to a stony or rocky area.
In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Cales surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #29,484 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras and Totnes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cales is 357 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.9%.
1881 census count
29
Ranked #29,484
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1861
357 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cales surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cales surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 87 | #18,695 |
| 1861 | historical | 357 | #7,155 |
| 1881 | historical | 29 | #29,484 |
| 1891 | historical | 248 | #12,849 |
| 1901 | historical | 63 | #27,134 |
| 1911 | historical | 47 | #28,110 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 8 | #37,806 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras, Totnes, Portsmouth, Portsea and St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Totnes | Devon |
| 4 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 5 | St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace | London (West Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cales surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cales, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Cales surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cales household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Cales is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cales is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cales, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Cales is believed to have originated in Spain, derived from the ancient Roman name Calles or Cales. This name is thought to be linked to the Latin word 'callis,' meaning a path or narrow way. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 12th century in the region of Andalusia.
During the Middle Ages, the name Cales was predominantly found in southern Spain, particularly in the provinces of Seville, Cordoba, and Granada. Historical records suggest that the name may have been associated with individuals who lived near or maintained paths or routes for travelers and merchants.
In the 14th century, a notable figure named Juan de Cales (c. 1320 - 1390) was a prominent architect and stonemason who contributed to the construction of several notable buildings in Seville, including the Alcázar of Seville and the Cathedral of Seville.
Another individual of historical significance was Diego de Cales (c. 1460 - 1522), a Spanish explorer and conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico. He is credited with being one of the first Europeans to set foot on the shores of what is now Veracruz.
In the 16th century, the name Cales was found in various Spanish archival records, including the Libro de Repartimiento, which documented land grants in the newly conquered territories of the Americas. One such record mentions a certain Pedro Cales, who received a land grant in the region of Guatemala in 1541.
As the Spanish Empire expanded, the surname Cales spread to other parts of Europe and the Americas. In the 18th century, a notable figure was Miguel Cales (1720 - 1792), a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Puerto Rico from 1776 to 1781.
Another prominent individual was Fray Andrés Cales (1740 - 1815), a Spanish Franciscan missionary who played a significant role in the evangelization efforts in California during the Spanish colonial period. He founded several missions, including the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel in 1771.
While the surname Cales is not among the most common in the world today, it continues to be found in various parts of Spain, as well as in regions with a significant Spanish cultural influence, such as Latin America and the Philippines.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cales surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 12 Cales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.24x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bromley London in Middlesex leads with 7 Cales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 112.54x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bromley London | 7 | 112.54x |
| Evenwood Barony | 4 | 1379.31x |
| Newington | 4 | 38.28x |
| North Cave Drewton | 3 | 2727.27x |
| Stoke Newington London | 3 | 136.36x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 11.07x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 8.11x |
| Battersea | 1 | 9.61x |
| Eston | 1 | 163.93x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 9.62x |
| Twickenham | 1 | 82.64x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cales surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cales surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Cales households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Labourer (Gen) | 2 |
| Porter | 2 |
| Barman | 1 |
| Dairymaid | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Excavator | 1 |
| Excavators Wife | 1 |
| Foreman Cutter Artizan | 1 |
| Grocers Assistant | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Tobacconist Assistant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Cales surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Cales a modern rank of #37,967.
A topographic surname derived from a place in France, possibly referring to a stony or rocky area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cales bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.