NameCensus.

UK surname

Cardozo

A surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin, derived from the place name Cardoso, meaning "a place of thistles."

In the 1881 census there were 32 people recorded with the Cardozo surname, ranking it #29,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 287, ranked #15,212, up from #29,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, North Dorset and Chelmsford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cardozo is 287 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 796.9%.

1881 census count

32

Ranked #29,082

Modern count

287

2016, ranked #15,212

Peak year

2016

287 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cardozo had 32 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 287 in 2016, ranked #15,212.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 65 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Cardozo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cardozo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cardozo 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 20 #29,743
1861 historical 12 #32,329
1881 historical 32 #29,082
1891 historical 37 #31,398
1901 historical 44 #29,276
1911 historical 65 #26,343
1997 modern 141 #21,941
1998 modern 144 #22,221
1999 modern 148 #22,020
2000 modern 136 #23,155
2001 modern 134 #23,037
2002 modern 143 #22,595
2003 modern 136 #23,045
2004 modern 142 #22,573
2005 modern 147 #22,057
2006 modern 158 #21,229
2007 modern 161 #21,201
2008 modern 164 #21,137
2009 modern 169 #21,190
2010 modern 190 #20,087
2011 modern 180 #20,649
2012 modern 197 #19,408
2013 modern 226 #17,969
2014 modern 245 #17,140
2015 modern 257 #16,475
2016 modern 287 #15,212

Geography

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Where Cardozos 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 Swindon, North Dorset, Chelmsford, Havering and Scarborough. 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 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 North Dorset 002 North Dorset
3 Chelmsford 020 Chelmsford
4 Havering 009 Havering
5 Scarborough 012 Scarborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cardozo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cardozo

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Cardozo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Cardozo household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Cardozo 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

Cardozo 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

Cardozo 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 Cardozo 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 Cardozo, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cardozo

The surname Cardozo has its origins in Portugal, tracing back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Portuguese word "cardozo," which means "thistle" or "thorny plant." This surname likely originated as a nickname or a descriptive name for someone who lived near a patch of thistles or was associated with the plant in some way.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Cardozo can be found in the historical records of the Inquisition in Portugal, where several individuals with this surname were persecuted for their Jewish faith during the 15th and 16th centuries. The name was commonly found among Sephardic Jews who fled the Iberian Peninsula during this period, seeking refuge in other parts of Europe and the Americas.

In the 17th century, the Cardozo surname appeared in the Dutch Republic, where a notable figure named Isaac Cardozo (1604-1681) lived. He was a prominent Jewish philosopher and theologian who wrote extensively on Jewish law and ethics.

As the Sephardic Jews dispersed across the globe, the Cardozo surname traveled with them. In the 18th century, the name can be found in records from Curacao, where a prominent member of the Cardozo family, Isaac Cardozo (1720-1786), served as a merchant and community leader.

In the 19th century, the Cardozo surname gained prominence in the United States, particularly in New York. Benjamin Nathan Cardozo (1870-1938) was a renowned jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was known for his influential legal opinions and is widely regarded as one of the most distinguished figures in American jurisprudence.

Another notable figure with the Cardozo surname was Michael Cardozo (1904-1983), an American lawyer and co-founder of the law firm Proskauer Rose LLP. He played a significant role in shaping the legal landscape of New York City during his career.

The Cardozo surname has also been associated with academic and cultural institutions. For example, the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, founded in 1976, is a prestigious law school located in New York City, named in honor of the esteemed Supreme Court Justice.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cardozo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cardozo 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 10 Cardozos recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.98x.

County Total Index
Essex 10 19.98x
Middlesex 7 2.76x
Somerset 4 9.80x
Kent 3 3.47x
Hertfordshire 1 5.72x
Lancashire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 10 Cardozos recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.50x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 10 90.50x
Bathwick 4 888.89x
Bethnal Green London 3 27.22x
Erith 3 352.94x
Islington London 2 8.14x
St George In East London 2 83.68x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 20.92x
Hertford St John 1 384.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Susannah 2
Blanche 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizbth. 1
Irene 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Roseta 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
James 1
John 1
Moses 1
Samuel 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 Cardozo households.

FAQ

Cardozo surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cardozo surname in 1881?

In 1881, 32 people were recorded with the Cardozo surname. That placed it at #29,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cardozo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 287 in 2016. That gives Cardozo a modern rank of #15,212.

What does the Cardozo surname mean?

A surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin, derived from the place name Cardoso, meaning "a place of thistles."

What does the Cardozo map show?

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