NameCensus.

UK surname

Card

An English occupational surname for someone who carded wool or made and sold playing cards.

In the 1881 census there were 1,750 people recorded with the Card surname, ranking it #2,470 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,139, ranked #3,022, down from #2,470 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Frant and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Cotswold and Thanet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Card is 2,395 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.2%.

1881 census count

1,750

Ranked #2,470

Modern count

2,139

2016, ranked #3,022

Peak year

1911

2,395 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Card had 1,750 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,470 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,139 in 2016, ranked #3,022.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,395 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Card surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Card surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Card 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 1,153 #2,449
1861 historical 1,329 #2,155
1881 historical 1,750 #2,470
1891 historical 1,954 #2,363
1901 historical 2,198 #2,456
1911 historical 2,395 #2,140
1997 modern 2,244 #2,764
1998 modern 2,319 #2,782
1999 modern 2,331 #2,792
2000 modern 2,262 #2,853
2001 modern 2,213 #2,852
2002 modern 2,283 #2,829
2003 modern 2,167 #2,904
2004 modern 2,174 #2,899
2005 modern 2,155 #2,884
2006 modern 2,111 #2,940
2007 modern 2,130 #2,941
2008 modern 2,137 #2,962
2009 modern 2,186 #2,967
2010 modern 2,237 #2,974
2011 modern 2,220 #2,952
2012 modern 2,157 #2,966
2013 modern 2,202 #2,962
2014 modern 2,206 #2,971
2015 modern 2,177 #2,984
2016 modern 2,139 #3,022

Geography

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Where Cards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Frant, Tunbridge, Bidborough and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Cotswold, Thanet, County Durham and South Somerset. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Frant Sussex
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 003 Bridgend
2 Cotswold 003 Cotswold
3 Thanet 012 Thanet
4 County Durham 059 County Durham
5 South Somerset 018 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Card

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Card

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Card surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Card 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Card is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Card is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Card falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Card 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Card

The surname CARD is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "ceart," meaning a cart or wagon, suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked as a carter or cartwright.

One of the earliest known references to the CARD surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1190, where a person named William Card is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century in various parts of England.

In the 13th century, records from the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire mention a Robert le Cartere, which is likely a variation of the CARD surname, further indicating its connection to the occupation of cart-making or transportation.

During the medieval period, the CARD surname appeared in various forms, such as Carte, Cartes, and Carde, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common at the time. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include:

1. John Carde (c. 1576 - 1654), an English lute player and composer during the Renaissance era. 2. Sir Thomas Carte (1686 - 1754), an English historian and writer, known for his work on the history of England. 3. Richard Carde (c. 1520 - 1570), an English Protestant author and polemicist during the Reformation period. 4. William Carde (fl. 1625 - 1638), an English clergyman and author who wrote about the practice of witchcraft in his time. 5. Henry Carde (c. 1588 - 1662), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the English Civil War.

In addition to these historical figures, the CARD surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Cardington in Bedfordshire, which may have influenced the development and spread of the name over time.

While the CARD surname has its roots in England, it has since been carried to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora, with people bearing this name found in various countries and cultures today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Card families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Card 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. Kent leads with 447 Cards recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.65x.

County Total Index
Kent 447 7.65x
Middlesex 251 1.47x
Sussex 238 8.24x
Surrey 179 2.14x
Somerset 125 4.53x
Wiltshire 81 5.35x
Essex 61 1.80x
Dorset 57 5.07x
Suffolk 53 2.54x
Hampshire 39 1.11x
Lancashire 37 0.18x
Glamorgan 30 1.01x
Yorkshire 23 0.14x
Devon 18 0.50x
Monmouthshire 17 1.37x
Durham 16 0.31x
Gloucestershire 15 0.45x
Lanarkshire 14 0.25x
Cumberland 7 0.47x
Derbyshire 7 0.26x
Channel Islands 5 0.99x
Norfolk 5 0.19x
Bedfordshire 4 0.45x
Northumberland 4 0.16x
Hertfordshire 3 0.25x
Berkshire 2 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.19x
Herefordshire 2 0.28x
Royal Navy 2 0.98x
Warwickshire 2 0.05x
Worcestershire 2 0.09x
Angus 1 0.06x
Ayrshire 1 0.08x
Banffshire 1 0.28x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.25x
Northamptonshire 1 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.04x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.18x
Shropshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tonbridge in Kent leads with 164 Cards recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.80x.

Place Total Index
Tonbridge 164 77.80x
Islington London 53 3.19x
East Grinstead 44 107.63x
Croydon 43 9.28x
Frant 32 156.40x
Speldhurst 28 94.09x
Lambeth 23 1.54x
Penshurst 23 233.98x
Plumstead 23 11.81x
Brighton 21 3.60x
Cheddar 21 151.41x
Hartfield 21 229.76x
Lowestoft 20 20.29x
Bromley London 19 5.04x
Gillingham 19 98.34x
Rotherfield 19 74.71x
Bethnal Green London 18 2.42x
Seal 18 190.88x
Bermondsey 17 3.33x
Sandon 17 622.71x
Battersea 16 2.54x
Kensington London 15 1.58x
Lewisham 15 4.81x
Mudford 15 669.64x
Plymouth Charles The 15 9.55x
Salisbury St Martin 14 88.78x
Clerkenwell London 13 3.22x
Glasgow 13 1.32x
Northfleet 13 25.25x
St Woollos 13 9.41x
Ipswich St Margaret 12 16.95x
Kemsing 12 461.54x
Sixpenny Handley 12 218.18x
Yeovil 12 21.42x
Betchworth 11 106.80x
Hambledon 11 92.91x
Llanwonno 11 10.26x
West Malling 11 83.59x
Hadlow 10 69.01x
Hove 10 7.89x
Lewes All Sts 10 86.96x
Lingfield 10 61.46x
St Marylebone London 10 1.09x
Chisledon 9 130.62x
Donhead St Andrew 9 193.13x
Milton In Gravesend 9 10.27x
Poplar London 9 2.78x
Shoreditch London 9 1.21x
Southampton St Mary 9 4.08x
St George Martyr London 9 25.94x
West Hoathly 9 99.23x
Westbury 9 256.41x
Willingale Doe 9 362.90x
Acton 8 7.97x
Ashurst 8 610.69x
Bow London 8 3.67x
Bremhill 8 117.13x
Gravesend 8 16.17x
Hammersmith London 8 1.90x
Mere 8 46.48x
Preston Next Faversham 8 58.22x
Toxteth Park 8 1.16x
Winscombe 8 107.38x
Addington 7 179.03x
Benfieldside 7 20.88x
Brenchley 7 33.46x
Camberwell 7 0.64x
Fletching 7 54.18x
Glastonbury 7 31.11x
Hackney London 7 0.73x
Manchester 7 0.77x
Maresfield 7 57.52x
Scarborough 7 4.54x
Southwark St John 7 13.36x
Tottenham 7 2.57x
West Stour 7 721.65x
Westhall 7 276.68x
Widnes 7 4.77x
Workington 7 8.29x
Wroughton 7 53.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 97
Elizabeth 61
Sarah 56
Alice 35
Eliza 31
Ellen 31
Annie 30
Emily 29
Jane 26
Ann 25
Emma 25
Louisa 16
Ada 15
Fanny 15
Harriet 15
Martha 15
Charlotte 14
Edith 12
Lucy 12
Hannah 11
Catherine 9
Clara 9
Kate 9
Maria 9
Caroline 8
Florence 8
Anne 7
Matilda 7
Susan 7
Amy 6
Frances 6
Harriett 6
Isabella 6
Margaret 6
Rose 6
Agnes 5
Amelia 5
Esther 5
Jessie 5
Sophia 5
Lizzie 4
Ruth 4
Susannah 4
Elizth. 3
Laura 3
Lily 3
Lois 3
Lydia 3
Rachel 3
Rhoda 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 115
George 85
Henry 64
John 60
Thomas 43
James 40
Charles 33
Edward 29
Alfred 21
Frederick 19
Joseph 18
Richard 18
Arthur 17
Albert 16
Robert 15
Ernest 14
Stephen 14
Walter 13
Frank 12
Harry 11
Edwin 9
Herbert 8
Samuel 7
Philip 6
Abraham 5
Benjamin 5
Caleb 5
Daniel 5
David 5
Jesse 5
Wm. 5
Chas. 3
Fred 3
Peter 3
Christopher 2
Cornelius 2
Edgar 2
Edmund 2
Emmanuel 2
Francis 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Jessie 2
Jonathan 2
Matthew 2
Oliver 2
Percy 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2

FAQ

Card surname: questions and answers

How common was the Card surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,750 people were recorded with the Card surname. That placed it at #2,470 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Card surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,139 in 2016. That gives Card a modern rank of #3,022.

What does the Card surname mean?

An English occupational surname for someone who carded wool or made and sold playing cards.

What does the Card map show?

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