NameCensus.

UK surname

Carberry

An Irish toponymic surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Cairbre," meaning "descendant of Cairbre," a personal name meaning "charioteer."

In the 1881 census there were 190 people recorded with the Carberry surname, ranking it #13,270 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,377, ranked #4,382, up from #13,270 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockton-on-Tees, Blairdardie East and Monmouthshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carberry is 1,428 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 624.7%.

1881 census count

190

Ranked #13,270

Modern count

1,377

2016, ranked #4,382

Peak year

2010

1,428 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carberry had 190 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,270 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,377 in 2016, ranked #4,382.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 301 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Carberry surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carberry surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Carberry 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 76 #20,127
1861 historical 123 #17,914
1881 historical 190 #13,270
1891 historical 255 #12,552
1901 historical 301 #11,627
1911 historical 208 #14,594
1997 modern 1,232 #4,613
1998 modern 1,277 #4,650
1999 modern 1,284 #4,651
2000 modern 1,258 #4,714
2001 modern 1,259 #4,623
2002 modern 1,278 #4,647
2003 modern 1,246 #4,652
2004 modern 1,261 #4,611
2005 modern 1,272 #4,523
2006 modern 1,313 #4,410
2007 modern 1,329 #4,404
2008 modern 1,350 #4,372
2009 modern 1,386 #4,364
2010 modern 1,428 #4,341
2011 modern 1,392 #4,380
2012 modern 1,349 #4,424
2013 modern 1,367 #4,457
2014 modern 1,397 #4,403
2015 modern 1,380 #4,399
2016 modern 1,377 #4,382

Geography

Back to top

Where Carberrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockton-on-Tees, Blairdardie East and Monmouthshire. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockton-on-Tees 010 Stockton-on-Tees
2 Stockton-on-Tees 014 Stockton-on-Tees
3 Blairdardie East Glasgow City
4 Monmouthshire 008 Monmouthshire
5 Stockton-on-Tees 009 Stockton-on-Tees

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Carberry

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Carberry

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Carberry surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Carberry household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Carberry is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Carberry 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

Carberry falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Carberry 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Carberry

The surname Carberry has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic words "carr" meaning "rock" or "rocky place" and "baile" meaning "town" or "settlement". It is believed to have been a place name originally, referring to a rocky settlement or town.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Carberry is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of homage rolls recording those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "de Carrebry", likely referring to someone from the town or settlement of Carberry.

In the 14th century, the name was also recorded in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which were financial records kept by the Scottish government. The spelling "Carrebry" was used in these records.

The Carberry family held lands in East Lothian, Scotland, and the name is associated with the village of Carberry, located near Musselburgh. The name of the village is believed to have been derived from the same Gaelic roots as the surname.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Carberry was Sir John Carberry, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century.

Another notable individual was William Carberry, a Scottish mathematician and astronomer born in 1572. He was known for his work on improving the accuracy of astronomical calculations and tables.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various records and documents with spellings such as "Carberry", "Carberrie", and "Carburie".

A notable figure from this time period was Captain Robert Carberry, a Scottish naval officer who served in the British Royal Navy during the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the 1660s.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure was Sir Thomas Carberry, a Scottish businessman and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the steel industry in Scotland.

During the same period, another individual named John Carberry made a name for himself as a scholar and educator, serving as the headmaster of several prestigious schools in Scotland.

While the name Carberry has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and settlement. However, its origins and historical significance remain closely tied to the rocky settlements and towns of Scotland's past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Carberry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carberry 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. Lanarkshire leads with 58 Carberrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.24x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 58 9.24x
Lancashire 47 2.04x
Renfrewshire 23 15.29x
Midlothian 18 6.92x
Middlesex 9 0.46x
Surrey 9 0.95x
Isle of Man 8 22.20x
Hampshire 7 1.76x
Durham 5 0.87x
Devon 4 0.99x
Royal Navy 2 8.65x
Angus 1 0.56x
Cumberland 1 0.60x
Kent 1 0.15x
Northumberland 1 0.35x
Sussex 1 0.31x
Warwickshire 1 0.20x
West Lothian 1 3.42x
Wigtownshire 1 3.88x
Yorkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 29 Carberrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.68x.

Place Total Index
Govan 29 18.68x
Barony 20 12.59x
Abbey 11 47.93x
Liverpool 10 7.15x
South Leith 9 30.76x
Onchan 7 67.44x
West Derby 7 10.39x
Wigan 6 18.64x
Barrow In Furness 5 15.96x
Conside Knitsley 5 111.36x
Croydon 5 9.52x
Edinburgh Old 5 316.46x
Manchester 5 4.83x
Pendleton In Salford 5 18.22x
Port Glasgow 5 68.78x
West Greenock 5 18.52x
Glasgow 4 3.59x
Lambeth 4 2.36x
Southampton Holy Rood 4 1000.00x
Stoke Damerel 4 14.14x
Poplar London 3 8.19x
West Calder 3 58.48x
Bothwell 2 11.75x
Clerkenwell London 2 4.36x
Great Bolton 2 6.56x
Portsea 2 2.57x
Royal Navy 2 10.12x
Toxteth Park 2 2.56x
Bedford 1 20.75x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.19x
Birmingham 1 0.61x
Carriden 1 75.76x
Crosscanonby 1 18.08x
Dundee 1 1.49x
Farnworth 1 7.25x
Gourock 1 5000.00x
Great Crosby 1 15.92x
Halifax 1 3.54x
Heddon On Wall 1 285.71x
Islington London 1 0.53x
Kirkdale 1 2.58x
Lasswade 1 16.81x
Maryhill 1 8.14x
Maughold 1 35.97x
Neilston 1 13.25x
Newhaven 1 37.59x
Openshaw 1 9.27x
Portsmouth 1 10.92x
Shettleston 1 17.79x
Shotts 1 13.32x
Sittingbourne 1 19.12x
St Luke London 1 3.21x
St Pancras London 1 0.64x
Wigtown 1 68.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 6
Ann 3
Catherine 3
Margaret 3
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Frances 2
Catharine 1
Clara 1
Clive 1
E.A. 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Helena 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Lydia 1
Margret 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Carberry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carberry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 190 people were recorded with the Carberry surname. That placed it at #13,270 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carberry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,377 in 2016. That gives Carberry a modern rank of #4,382.

What does the Carberry surname mean?

An Irish toponymic surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Cairbre," meaning "descendant of Cairbre," a personal name meaning "charioteer."

What does the Carberry map show?

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