NameCensus.

UK surname

Cardinal

A surname derived from the red-robed senior clergy of the Roman Catholic Church or from the cardinal bird.

In the 1881 census there were 69 people recorded with the Cardinal surname, ranking it #23,816 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 118, ranked #27,873, down from #23,816 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eastleigh, Central Bedfordshire and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cardinal is 119 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.0%.

1881 census count

69

Ranked #23,816

Modern count

118

2016, ranked #27,873

Peak year

2014

119 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cardinal had 69 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,816 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016, ranked #27,873.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 82 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Cardinal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cardinal surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cardinal 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 33 #27,390
1861 historical 48 #27,896
1881 historical 69 #23,816
1891 historical 69 #28,188
1901 historical 63 #27,134
1911 historical 82 #24,635
1997 modern 107 #25,924
1998 modern 108 #26,417
1999 modern 112 #26,044
2000 modern 103 #27,280
2001 modern 98 #27,672
2002 modern 106 #26,985
2003 modern 107 #26,617
2004 modern 106 #27,045
2005 modern 106 #27,044
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 107 #27,557
2008 modern 106 #28,016
2009 modern 108 #28,311
2010 modern 112 #28,336
2011 modern 117 #27,334
2012 modern 116 #27,550
2013 modern 113 #28,502
2014 modern 119 #27,813
2015 modern 118 #27,833
2016 modern 118 #27,873

Geography

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Where Cardinals are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eastleigh, Central Bedfordshire, Coventry, Gosport and Newark and Sherwood. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eastleigh 001 Eastleigh
2 Central Bedfordshire 004 Central Bedfordshire
3 Coventry 002 Coventry
4 Gosport 007 Gosport
5 Newark and Sherwood 005 Newark and Sherwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cardinal

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cardinal

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Cardinal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Cardinal 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cardinal is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cardinal 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

Cardinal falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cardinal is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Cardinal

The surname Cardinal has its origins in France and Italy, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word "cardinalis," meaning "principal" or "chief." The name was initially given to high-ranking Catholic clergy members known as cardinals.

In France, the Cardinal surname can be traced back to the 12th century, where it was used to refer to members of the Catholic Church's College of Cardinals. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name appear in medieval French records and manuscripts.

One notable figure bearing the Cardinal surname was Pierre Cardinal, a French prelate who lived from 1165 to 1252. He served as the Bishop of Meaux and played a significant role in the ecclesiastical affairs of his time.

In Italy, the Cardinal surname emerged around the same period, with the earliest known record dating back to the 13th century. It was often associated with influential families involved in the Catholic Church hierarchy.

One famous Italian with the Cardinal surname was Jacopo Cardinal, a renowned jurist and scholar who lived from 1285 to 1348. He was a prominent figure in the legal and intellectual circles of his era.

Another notable figure was Girolamo Cardinal, an Italian playwright and poet born in 1506 and died in 1586. He was known for his contributions to the Renaissance literary scene.

In England, the Cardinal surname can be traced back to the 16th century, where it was sometimes spelled as "Cardinall" or "Cardenall." One notable English bearer of the name was Thomas Cardinal, a church reformer and Protestant martyr who lived from 1532 to 1555.

The Cardinal surname has also been associated with certain place names, such as Cardington in Bedfordshire, England, and Cardinal, Ontario, in Canada. These place names may have influenced the surname's geographical spread and variations.

Other notable historical figures with the Cardinal surname include Francisco Cardinal, a Spanish explorer and navigator who lived from 1490 to 1548, and Marie Cardinal, a French writer and feminist activist born in 1928 and died in 2001.

Overall, the Cardinal surname has a rich history rooted in the Catholic Church's hierarchical structure and its spread across various European countries, reflecting the influence of religion and ecclesiastical institutions on naming traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cardinal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cardinal 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 25 Cardinals recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.89x.

County Total Index
Kent 25 10.89x
Middlesex 18 2.67x
Essex 9 6.77x
Cambridgeshire 5 11.73x
Hampshire 5 3.62x
Leicestershire 2 2.68x
Northamptonshire 2 3.16x
Monmouthshire 1 2.06x
Surrey 1 0.30x
Sussex 1 0.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 8 Cardinals recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.26x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 8 12.26x
Charterhouse London 7 2187.50x
Greenwich 7 65.36x
Lewisham 7 57.14x
Canterbury Holy Cross 6 2727.27x
St Andrewthe Less 5 102.67x
Titchfield 4 384.62x
West Ham 4 13.64x
Bocking 3 375.00x
Bow London 2 23.34x
Canterbury St Dunstan 2 500.00x
Canterbury St Peter 2 769.23x
Halstead 2 129.03x
Hardingstone 2 333.33x
Leicester St Margaret 2 10.99x
Aberystruth 1 23.31x
Fordingbridge 1 133.33x
Hackney London 1 2.65x
Hastings St Leonards 1 59.88x
Margate St John Baptist 1 23.75x
Penge 1 23.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 4
Mary 4
Alice 2
Emma 2
Esther 2
Martha 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Annette 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emlie 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Mara 1
Marion 1
Matilda 1
Pauline 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 4
Christopher 3
John 3
Thomas 3
George 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Jno. 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Francois 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Harold 1
James 1
Justin 1
Peter 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

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 Cardinal households.

FAQ

Cardinal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cardinal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 69 people were recorded with the Cardinal surname. That placed it at #23,816 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cardinal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016. That gives Cardinal a modern rank of #27,873.

What does the Cardinal surname mean?

A surname derived from the red-robed senior clergy of the Roman Catholic Church or from the cardinal bird.

What does the Cardinal map show?

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