NameCensus.

UK surname

Cardy

Of Irish origin, a descriptive surname denoting an ill-tempered or gruff person.

In the 1881 census there were 452 people recorded with the Cardy surname, ranking it #7,304 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,190, ranked #5,003, up from #7,304 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Eling and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Kingston upon Hull and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cardy is 1,326 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 163.3%.

1881 census count

452

Ranked #7,304

Modern count

1,190

2016, ranked #5,003

Peak year

1999

1,326 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cardy had 452 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,304 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,190 in 2016, ranked #5,003.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 899 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cardy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cardy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cardy 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 307 #7,502
1861 historical 338 #7,541
1881 historical 452 #7,304
1891 historical 639 #6,066
1901 historical 808 #5,583
1911 historical 899 #4,956
1997 modern 1,228 #4,624
1998 modern 1,280 #4,642
1999 modern 1,326 #4,515
2000 modern 1,271 #4,667
2001 modern 1,241 #4,666
2002 modern 1,268 #4,684
2003 modern 1,222 #4,730
2004 modern 1,227 #4,714
2005 modern 1,197 #4,765
2006 modern 1,185 #4,822
2007 modern 1,191 #4,839
2008 modern 1,203 #4,829
2009 modern 1,246 #4,792
2010 modern 1,270 #4,809
2011 modern 1,237 #4,865
2012 modern 1,175 #4,992
2013 modern 1,198 #4,986
2014 modern 1,191 #5,057
2015 modern 1,180 #5,048
2016 modern 1,190 #5,003

Geography

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Where Cardys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Eling, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Bures, Lamarsh, Alphamstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Kingston upon Hull, Pembrokeshire, Tendring and County Durham. 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 Eling Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
5 Bures, Lamarsh, Alphamstone Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 005 Copeland
2 Kingston upon Hull 031 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 Pembrokeshire 013 Pembrokeshire
4 Tendring 011 Tendring
5 County Durham 016 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cardy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cardy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cardy, 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 Cardy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cardy 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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Cardy 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

Cardy is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Cardy

The surname Cardy is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages, derived from the Old English word "cardi," which means "husbandman" or "tiller of the soil." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely farmers or agricultural workers.

The name Cardy can be traced back to various regions of England, including the counties of Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire. It is believed that the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive land survey conducted in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Cardy was John Cardy, a landowner and farmer who lived in the village of Swinstead, Lincolnshire, in the 13th century. He was mentioned in several local records and manuscripts from that period.

In the 14th century, the name Cardy appeared in various spellings, such as Cardi, Cardie, and Cardey, reflecting the variations in local dialects and spelling conventions of the time. One notable individual from this era was William Cardy, a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of York, who lived between 1320 and 1387.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Cardy became more widespread across England, with several families bearing the name residing in various counties. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Cardy, a renowned scholar and theologian who lived from 1570 to 1644. He was known for his contributions to the study of ecclesiastical law and served as a rector in the Church of England.

In the 18th century, the Cardy family established itself in the county of Nottinghamshire, where they owned land and estates. One prominent member of this family was Sir John Cardy, a successful businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1725 to 1798. He was known for his charitable works and played a significant role in the development of the local community.

Another notable figure from the 19th century was Elizabeth Cardy, a celebrated novelist and poet who lived from 1821 to 1892. She wrote several acclaimed works that explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition, and her works were widely read and appreciated during her lifetime.

Throughout its history, the surname Cardy has been associated with various occupations and professions, from farmers and merchants to scholars and writers. While its origins can be traced back to the agricultural roots of its earliest bearers, the name has evolved and spread across different regions and social strata over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cardy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cardy 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 131 Cardys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.85x.

County Total Index
Essex 131 14.85x
Suffolk 90 16.54x
Hampshire 54 5.90x
Surrey 49 2.25x
Middlesex 28 0.63x
Durham 26 1.96x
Herefordshire 10 5.46x
Wiltshire 10 2.53x
Lincolnshire 7 0.98x
Sussex 7 0.93x
Yorkshire 7 0.16x
Channel Islands 6 4.53x
Lanarkshire 6 0.42x
Renfrewshire 5 1.44x
Ayrshire 4 1.20x
Cheshire 3 0.30x
Kent 3 0.20x
Perthshire 3 1.50x
Anglesey 2 2.53x
Gloucestershire 2 0.23x
Norfolk 2 0.29x
Somerset 2 0.28x
Northumberland 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bures St Mary in Suffolk leads with 42 Cardys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3157.89x.

Place Total Index
Bures St Mary 42 3157.89x
Wormingford 34 4657.53x
Stanway 24 1548.39x
West Moulsey 15 1485.15x
Nayland 14 1014.49x
Runwell 13 2549.02x
Eling 12 129.31x
Southwark St Saviour 11 47.91x
St Mary Kalendar 11 575.92x
Kington 9 198.24x
Fisherton Anger 8 109.44x
Greenstead 8 625.00x
Newton 8 1159.42x
Fobbing 7 1076.92x
Great Grimsby 7 15.44x
Colchester St Nicholas 6 759.49x
East Molesey 6 118.81x
Hetton Le Hole 6 35.63x
Lexden 6 169.49x
Leyton 6 39.50x
Longstock 6 895.52x
Monks Eleigh 6 681.82x
Newbottle 6 82.64x
Paddington London 6 3.65x
Penshaw 6 150.38x
Portsea 6 3.34x
St Pancras London 6 1.67x
West Ham 6 3.08x
Hove 5 15.13x
Newington 5 3.03x
Port Glasgow 5 29.87x
St Mary Extra 5 67.84x
West Rainton 5 121.65x
Barony 4 1.09x
Battersea 4 2.43x
Great Clacton 4 133.33x
Little Cornard 4 677.97x
Romsey Extra 4 73.39x
South Stoneham 4 20.14x
St Martin 4 49.32x
St Quivox 4 35.40x
Sudbury All Sts 4 240.96x
Thornaby 4 24.18x
West Mersea 4 236.69x
Fulham London 3 4.63x
Hornsey 3 5.31x
Norbury 3 130.43x
Perth West Church 3 31.51x
Rotherhithe 3 5.43x
Ryhope 3 32.50x
Stratford St Mary 3 384.62x
Sudbury St Gregory 3 68.81x
Wanstead 3 19.43x
Wiston 3 1034.48x
Beaumaris 2 68.49x
Bromley London 2 2.03x
Canterbury St Mildred 2 55.25x
Cobham 2 56.02x
Govan 2 0.56x
St Sepulchre London 2 30.58x
Stanghow 2 111.73x
Thetford St Cuthbert 2 80.65x
Aldershot 1 3.26x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 1.21x
Colchester St Martin 1 62.11x
Dovercourt 1 32.26x
Great Baddow 1 31.85x
Islington London 1 0.23x
Kensington London 1 0.40x
Luttons Ambo 1 108.70x
Lyndhurst 1 39.84x
Nailsea 1 35.21x
Sidlesham 1 68.97x
South Mimms 1 16.31x
St Bartholomew Less 1 43.48x
St George Hanover 1 1.71x
St Saviour 1 13.66x
Sudbury St Peter 1 33.56x
Thames Ditton 1 22.12x
Weeley 1 108.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Eliza 13
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 12
Emma 10
Alice 8
Annie 6
Charlotte 6
Ellen 6
Maria 6
Ann 5
Fanny 5
Jane 5
Caroline 4
Rose 4
Harriet 3
Jemima 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Lydia 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Hannah 2
Hester 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Rosanna 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Allice 1
Beatrice 1
Belisaint 1
Blanch 1
Dora 1
Elenor 1
Eleonore 1
Elisa 1
Elizebeth 1
Ella 1
Emiley 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Laura 1
Levina 1
Lilian 1
Thomasine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 32
George 27
John 13
Henry 12
James 12
Alfred 10
Arthur 10
Charles 9
Thomas 9
Robert 7
Walter 7
Daniel 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Edward 4
Samuel 4
David 3
Ernest 3
Maurice 3
Abraham 2
Elijah 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Nathaniel 2
Phillip 2
Wm. 2
Benjamin 1
Caleb 1
Devic 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Hannah 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Isacc 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Laban 1
Levi 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Morris 1
Octavius 1
Philip 1
Rbt. 1
Robt. 1

FAQ

Cardy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cardy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 452 people were recorded with the Cardy surname. That placed it at #7,304 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cardy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,190 in 2016. That gives Cardy a modern rank of #5,003.

What does the Cardy surname mean?

Of Irish origin, a descriptive surname denoting an ill-tempered or gruff person.

What does the Cardy map show?

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