NameCensus.

UK surname

Car

A surname possibly originating from a Scottish place name or as a nickname for someone who traveled frequently by cart.

In the 1881 census there were 105 people recorded with the Car surname, ranking it #19,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 100, ranked #31,123, down from #19,183 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Heston, Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Melton, Ealing and Enfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Car is 170 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.8%.

1881 census count

105

Ranked #19,183

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

1851

170 bearers

Map years

3

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Car had 105 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,183 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 170 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Car surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Car surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Car 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 170 #11,780
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 105 #19,183
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1901 historical 33 #30,384
1997 modern 41 #33,552
1998 modern 29 #34,948
1999 modern 23 #35,612
2000 modern 22 #35,684
2001 modern 22 #35,531
2002 modern 22 #35,709
2003 modern 22 #35,740
2004 modern 25 #35,610
2005 modern 28 #35,510
2006 modern 32 #35,392
2007 modern 37 #35,215
2008 modern 30 #35,736
2009 modern 33 #35,671
2010 modern 40 #35,403
2011 modern 41 #35,340
2012 modern 58 #34,404
2013 modern 65 #34,059
2014 modern 73 #33,587
2015 modern 85 #32,693
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Cars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Heston, Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton), Manchester, St John Westminster and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Melton, Ealing, Enfield, Kensington and Chelsea and South Bucks. 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 Heston Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 St John Westminster London (West Districts)
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Melton 005 Melton
2 Ealing 011 Ealing
3 Enfield 013 Enfield
4 Kensington and Chelsea 016 Kensington and Chelsea
5 South Bucks 001 South Bucks

Forenames

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First names often paired with Car

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Car

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Car, 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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Car surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Car household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Car is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Car 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

Car falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Car is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Car

The surname Car originated in France in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "carre", meaning square or diamond-shaped. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a square or diamond-shaped plot of land or building.

In the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various records and manuscripts in France, often spelled as "Carre" or "Carré". One of the earliest recorded examples is Jehan Carre, who was mentioned in a tax record from the village of Brie in 1296.

The Car surname was also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that individuals with the name or its variants may have migrated from France to England during the Norman Conquest.

Over time, the name spread to other parts of Europe, including Germany and the Netherlands, where it was sometimes spelled as "Karr" or "Kar". In the 16th century, a notable figure with this surname was the Dutch Renaissance humanist and scholar, Johannes Carrius (1521-1598).

Another prominent individual with the Car surname was Claude Car, a French painter and engraver who lived from 1671 to 1766. He is known for his etchings and engravings of landscapes and architectural subjects.

In the 19th century, Charles-Nicolas Car (1806-1879) was a French sculptor who specialized in creating busts and statues. Some of his works can be found in various museums and public spaces across France.

In the British Isles, the name was sometimes anglicized to "Carr" or "Ker". One notable person with this spelling was Ralph Ker (1610-1670), a Scottish military commander who fought in the English Civil War.

Throughout history, the Car surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Carville in France and Carrington in England, which may have influenced the development and spread of the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Car families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Car surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 13 Cars recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.43x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 13 1.43x
Norfolk 11 7.80x
Lancashire 8 0.74x
Middlesex 8 0.87x
Warwickshire 8 3.46x
Kent 7 2.24x
Leicestershire 7 6.89x
Sussex 6 3.88x
Durham 4 1.47x
Devon 3 1.57x
Somerset 3 2.03x
Angus 2 2.35x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.62x
Staffordshire 2 0.65x
Worcestershire 2 1.67x
Derbyshire 1 0.70x
Essex 1 0.55x
Isle of Man 1 5.88x
Lanarkshire 1 0.34x
Northamptonshire 1 1.16x
Northumberland 1 0.73x
Royal Navy 1 9.16x
Surrey 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heigham in Norfolk leads with 9 Cars recorded in 1881 and an index of 118.89x.

Place Total Index
Heigham 9 118.89x
Birmingham 7 9.09x
Medbourne 7 4117.65x
Swinton In Rotherham 7 291.67x
Deptford St Paul 6 24.88x
Steyning 5 961.54x
Hackney London 4 7.78x
Middleton In Oldham 4 122.70x
Sheffield 4 13.83x
Bedminster 3 21.63x
Little Barningham 2 3333.33x
Newark Upon Trent 2 45.05x
Ribbesford 2 200.00x
Tormoham 2 24.78x
Wavertree 2 57.47x
Ashford 1 138.89x
Aston 1 1.57x
Barnsley 1 10.67x
Bishopwearmouth 1 4.27x
Brighton 1 3.21x
Camberwell 1 1.71x
Caytn Deepdal Kilrby 1 526.32x
Chesterfield 1 18.59x
Dundee 1 3.15x
Glenisla 1 400.00x
Great Lumley 1 212.77x
Greenwich 1 6.85x
Hartwell 1 625.00x
Ipstones 1 227.27x
Kensington London 1 1.96x
Leyton 1 32.05x
Liverpool 1 1.51x
New Monkland 1 11.42x
Onchan 1 20.41x
Plymouth Charles The 1 11.89x
Royal Navy 1 10.71x
St Pancras London 1 1.36x
Stockton On Tees 1 7.60x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 3.05x
Titlington 1 3333.33x
Toxteth Park 1 2.71x
West Auckland 1 100.00x
Westminster St John 1 8.96x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Car surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Car surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Car surname: questions and answers

How common was the Car surname in 1881?

In 1881, 105 people were recorded with the Car surname. That placed it at #19,183 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Car surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Car a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Car surname mean?

A surname possibly originating from a Scottish place name or as a nickname for someone who traveled frequently by cart.

What does the Car map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Car 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.