NameCensus.

UK surname

Carder

An occupational surname referring to someone who carded wool or cotton, preparing fibers for spinning.

In the 1881 census there were 525 people recorded with the Carder surname, ranking it #6,524 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 745, ranked #7,333, down from #6,524 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Weathersfield, London parishes and Ickleton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Plymouth, Rother and Dacorum.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carder is 847 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.9%.

1881 census count

525

Ranked #6,524

Modern count

745

2016, ranked #7,333

Peak year

1999

847 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carder had 525 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,524 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 745 in 2016, ranked #7,333.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 777 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Carder surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carder surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carder 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 359 #6,583
1861 historical 501 #5,220
1881 historical 525 #6,524
1891 historical 699 #5,606
1901 historical 638 #6,740
1911 historical 777 #5,591
1997 modern 792 #6,587
1998 modern 846 #6,463
1999 modern 847 #6,501
2000 modern 833 #6,567
2001 modern 806 #6,615
2002 modern 811 #6,695
2003 modern 782 #6,779
2004 modern 789 #6,752
2005 modern 767 #6,830
2006 modern 752 #6,972
2007 modern 759 #6,988
2008 modern 737 #7,204
2009 modern 752 #7,233
2010 modern 769 #7,255
2011 modern 747 #7,334
2012 modern 728 #7,393
2013 modern 757 #7,289
2014 modern 758 #7,306
2015 modern 750 #7,303
2016 modern 745 #7,333

Geography

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Where Carders are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Weathersfield, London parishes, Ickleton and Plympstock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Plymouth, Rother, Dacorum, Braintree and South Cambridgeshire. 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 Weathersfield Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Ickleton Cambridgeshire
4 Plympstock Devon
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Plymouth 031 Plymouth
2 Rother 004 Rother
3 Dacorum 013 Dacorum
4 Braintree 006 Braintree
5 South Cambridgeshire 015 South Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carder

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carder

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Carder surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Carder household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Carder 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

Carder is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Carder falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Carder 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 Carder, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Carder

The surname Carder has its origins in England, specifically in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it first emerged in the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "carding," which refers to the process of combing and disentangling wool fibers to prepare them for spinning.

During the medieval period, the wool trade played a significant role in the English economy, and many surnames arose from occupations related to this industry. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax returns of 1379, where it appeared as "Johanne le Carder."

In the 16th century, the surname Carder was documented in various records, including the Parish Registers of Westmorland, where it was recorded as "Carder" in 1568. This suggests that the spelling had become more standardized by that time.

The Carder surname is also closely associated with the town of Cardinham in Cornwall, England. It is believed that some Carder families originated from this area, and the name may have been derived from the place name itself.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Carder was John Carder, who was born in Yorkshire in the late 15th century and served as a wool merchant and trader. Another notable figure was William Carder (1591-1668), a prominent English clergyman and author from Lancashire.

In the 17th century, the Carder surname gained recognition through the work of Richard Carder (1605-1691), a renowned English merchant and banker who established a successful trading company in London. He was followed by his son, John Carder (1638-1717), who continued the family business and became a prominent figure in the City of London.

During the 18th century, the Carder name was associated with the literary world through the works of Thomas Carder (1726-1804), an English poet and playwright who published several plays and poems during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, the Carder surname gained further prominence with the birth of William Carder (1818-1892), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carder families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carder 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. Essex leads with 140 Carders recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.72x.

County Total Index
Essex 140 13.72x
Devon 129 11.99x
Middlesex 74 1.43x
Staffordshire 28 1.60x
Lancashire 23 0.37x
Cambridgeshire 21 6.41x
Surrey 17 0.67x
Nottinghamshire 16 2.30x
Glamorgan 15 1.67x
Kent 13 0.74x
Lincolnshire 13 1.57x
Somerset 10 1.20x
Cornwall 8 1.37x
Sussex 4 0.46x
Cheshire 3 0.26x
Gloucestershire 3 0.30x
Royal Navy 3 4.87x
Wiltshire 3 0.66x
Channel Islands 1 0.65x
Oxfordshire 1 0.31x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.61x
Suffolk 1 0.16x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x
Worcestershire 1 0.15x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymstock in Devon leads with 29 Carders recorded in 1881 and an index of 515.10x.

Place Total Index
Plymstock 29 515.10x
Wethersfield 24 933.85x
Withycombe Rawleigh 20 356.51x
Kingswinford 19 29.99x
Ickleton 14 1196.58x
Chelsea London 12 7.70x
Romford 12 74.40x
Marwood 11 769.23x
Great Bardfield 10 595.24x
Porlock 10 735.29x
South Ockendon 10 473.93x
Bethnal Green London 9 4.01x
Castle Hedingham 9 489.13x
Kensington London 9 3.13x
Bilston 8 23.65x
Lewisham 8 8.51x
Limehouse London 8 14.09x
St Paul Lincoln 8 551.72x
Braunton 7 191.78x
Cardiff St John 7 23.81x
Chudleigh 7 204.68x
Clapham 7 10.83x
Great Saling 7 1129.03x
Halstead 7 58.82x
Liverpool 7 1.88x
Llandaff 7 23.37x
St Andrewthe Less 7 18.71x
Carlton 6 75.47x
Mucking 6 1363.64x
Nottingham St Mary 6 3.33x
Romansleigh 6 2307.69x
Shalford 6 465.12x
Combmartin 5 213.68x
Dartmouth St Saviour 5 162.87x
Littleham 5 63.53x
Meshaw 5 1724.14x
Morthoe 5 657.89x
St Martin Lincoln 5 65.19x
St Pancras London 5 1.20x
Stifford 5 980.39x
West Ham 5 2.22x
Barking 4 13.40x
Barrowford Booth 4 58.91x
Belchamp Walter 4 366.97x
Bromley London 4 3.52x
Cold Norton 4 1212.12x
Harwich St Nicholas 4 50.76x
Hendon 4 21.51x
Lambeth 4 0.89x
Mile End Old Town London 4 3.64x
Nottingham St Nicholas 4 42.15x
Rye 4 48.31x
Southwark Christchurch 4 16.51x
Stanford Le Hope 4 273.97x
West Derby 4 2.23x
Bristol St George 3 6.40x
Burnham 3 79.58x
Charlton 3 25.60x
Cheetham 3 6.56x
Fobbing 3 394.74x
Great Maplestead 3 428.57x
Hammersmith London 3 2.36x
Instow 3 258.62x
Oakford 3 340.91x
Royal Navy 3 5.70x
Seaton 3 72.29x
Stoke Damerel 3 3.98x
Willesden 3 6.16x
Chittlehampton 2 75.47x
Constantine 2 58.65x
Ealing 2 4.33x
East Stonehouse 2 9.43x
Fulham London 2 2.67x
Kenwyn 2 13.06x
Over 2 17.24x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 2.41x
Tawstock 2 104.71x
Walthamstow 2 5.45x
Whitechapel London 2 3.92x
Wilton 2 61.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Sarah 16
Emma 15
Elizabeth 12
Eliza 10
Emily 10
Ellen 9
Edith 8
Harriett 7
Annie 6
Frances 5
Harriet 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Caroline 4
Jane 4
Lucy 4
Maria 4
Matilda 4
Rose 4
Anne 3
Betsey 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Gertrude 3
Hannah 3
Isabella 3
Julia 3
Lydia 3
Margaret 3
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Emiline 2
Ethel 2
Grace 2
Helen 2
Kate 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Blanch 1
Elizebth 1
Elizh. 1
Elsie 1
Esther 1
Kathleen 1
Laura 1
Ursula 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Carder surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carder surname in 1881?

In 1881, 525 people were recorded with the Carder surname. That placed it at #6,524 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carder surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 745 in 2016. That gives Carder a modern rank of #7,333.

What does the Carder surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who carded wool or cotton, preparing fibers for spinning.

What does the Carder map show?

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