NameCensus.

UK surname

Carew

A locational surname derived from any of several places in Wales, England, or France named Carew or Carrue.

In the 1881 census there were 280 people recorded with the Carew surname, ranking it #10,202 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 718, ranked #7,566, up from #10,202 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Mary and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Lewisham and Woking.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carew is 745 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 156.4%.

1881 census count

280

Ranked #10,202

Modern count

718

2016, ranked #7,566

Peak year

2010

745 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carew had 280 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,202 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 718 in 2016, ranked #7,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 416 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Carew surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carew surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carew 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 173 #11,629
1861 historical 214 #11,365
1881 historical 280 #10,202
1891 historical 293 #11,319
1901 historical 322 #11,090
1911 historical 416 #9,028
1997 modern 629 #7,868
1998 modern 641 #7,986
1999 modern 636 #8,095
2000 modern 651 #7,929
2001 modern 645 #7,844
2002 modern 674 #7,736
2003 modern 665 #7,693
2004 modern 677 #7,607
2005 modern 687 #7,460
2006 modern 706 #7,301
2007 modern 697 #7,441
2008 modern 705 #7,439
2009 modern 726 #7,418
2010 modern 745 #7,415
2011 modern 743 #7,365
2012 modern 703 #7,580
2013 modern 710 #7,647
2014 modern 725 #7,571
2015 modern 719 #7,568
2016 modern 718 #7,566

Geography

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Where Carews are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Mary, London parishes and Camel, West. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Lewisham, Woking, Birmingham and Dudley. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 St Mary Pembrokeshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Camel, West Somerset
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 017 Cornwall
2 Lewisham 012 Lewisham
3 Woking 008 Woking
4 Birmingham 119 Birmingham
5 Dudley 034 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carew

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carew

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Carew surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Carew 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Carew is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Carew 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

Carew falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Carew is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Carew

The surname Carew has its origins in the ancient Celtic Briton culture, tracing back to the 6th century. It is believed to have derived from the Welsh place name "Carew" or "Carien," meaning "fort" or "stronghold." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name likely hailed from or were associated with a fortified settlement or castle.

The name Carew first appeared in records during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This indicates that the Carew family had established a presence in England by that time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Carew was Sir Nicholas de Carew, who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. He served as a knight and was granted lands in Carew Castle, Pembrokeshire, Wales, by King John in 1207. This castle and its surrounding lands became the ancestral seat of the Carew family for several centuries.

Another notable figure in the history of the Carew name was Sir John Carew (c. 1345 - c. 1405), a prominent military leader during the Hundred Years' War. He fought alongside the Black Prince at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 and later served as a commander in the English army during the reign of King Richard II.

In the 16th century, Sir Peter Carew (1514 - 1575) gained prominence as a military commander and explorer. He led expeditions to explore the Spanish Main and the West Indies, and played a significant role in the establishment of English settlements in the New World.

The Carew family continued to hold influential positions in England and Wales throughout the centuries. One notable figure was Sir George Carew (1555 - 1629), who served as Lord President of Munster in Ireland and played a crucial role in suppressing the Nine Years' War against Irish rebels.

Another distinguished member of the Carew family was Thomas Carew (1595 - 1639), a renowned English poet and courtier during the Baroque era. He was known for his mastery of lyric poetry and his contributions to the development of English literature.

Over time, the Carew surname has seen various spellings, including Carrew, Carreu, Carewe, and Caru. However, the modern spelling of "Carew" has become the most widely accepted form. The name has also been associated with several place names, such as Carew Castle in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and Carew Manor in Beddington, Surrey, England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carew families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carew 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. Middlesex leads with 58 Carews recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.11x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 58 2.11x
Somerset 40 9.03x
Devon 28 4.89x
Lancashire 24 0.74x
Pembrokeshire 24 27.45x
Gloucestershire 18 3.34x
Glamorgan 16 3.34x
Cheshire 10 1.65x
Cornwall 10 3.21x
Kent 9 0.96x
Surrey 9 0.67x
Hampshire 6 1.06x
Wiltshire 5 2.06x
Yorkshire 5 0.18x
Essex 3 0.55x
Royal Navy 3 9.15x
Sussex 3 0.65x
Shropshire 2 0.84x
Berkshire 1 0.48x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.60x
Cumberland 1 0.42x
Dunbartonshire 1 1.35x
Herefordshire 1 0.89x
Monmouthshire 1 0.50x
Northumberland 1 0.24x
Warwickshire 1 0.14x
Worcestershire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tenby St Mary In in Pembrokeshire leads with 24 Carews recorded in 1881 and an index of 539.33x.

Place Total Index
Tenby St Mary In 24 539.33x
Bristol Temple 11 309.86x
Shoreditch London 10 8.39x
West Camel 10 3703.70x
Chelsea London 9 10.86x
Clatworthy 9 4285.71x
Bootle Cum Linacre 8 30.86x
Paddington London 8 7.91x
Queen Camel 8 1538.46x
Cardiff St John 7 44.76x
Bickleigh 6 1071.43x
Cardiff St Mary 6 22.74x
Stoke Damerel 6 14.97x
Weaverham Cum Milton 6 372.67x
Litherland 5 73.31x
Rattery 5 1351.35x
Wilton 5 290.70x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 16.28x
Crowcombe 4 952.38x
Deptford St Paul 4 5.53x
St Pancras London 4 1.81x
St Pinnock 4 851.06x
Werneth 4 210.53x
Winterbourne 4 134.23x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.51x
Camberwell 3 1.71x
Creech St Michael 3 272.73x
Greenwich 3 6.85x
Madron Penzance 3 26.50x
Newton Ferrers 3 454.55x
Portsea 3 2.71x
Royal Navy 3 10.71x
Sparkford 3 1250.00x
Tiverton 3 30.43x
Westbury On Trym 3 16.41x
Westminster St Margaret 3 22.61x
Alverstoke 2 9.80x
Batley 2 7.72x
Fitz 2 740.74x
Fryerning 2 303.03x
Fulham London 2 5.01x
Hackney London 2 1.30x
Hastings Holy Trinity 2 58.48x
Hornsey 2 5.75x
Islington London 2 0.75x
Kensington London 2 1.31x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 4.53x
Richmond 2 10.65x
St George Bloomsbury 2 12.67x
Walcot 2 8.48x
Whitby 2 21.76x
Ystradyfodwg 2 4.76x
Ballingham 1 250.00x
Bermondsey 1 1.22x
Bow London 1 2.86x
Cleator 1 10.14x
Croydon 1 1.34x
Exeter St David 1 20.45x
Feock 1 51.28x
Great Linford 1 238.10x
Hammersmith London 1 1.48x
Heaton Norris 1 5.38x
Hove 1 4.91x
Lanreath 1 188.68x
Leigh 1 52.91x
Limington 1 357.14x
Manchester 1 0.68x
Newport 1 10.54x
Old Windsor 1 41.84x
Oldham 1 0.95x
Preston 1 1.15x
Roath 1 4.60x
Spitalfields London 1 4.83x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 8.40x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.06x
Titchfield 1 23.53x
Tormoham 1 4.13x
West Derby 1 1.05x
Wimbledon 1 6.64x
Wye 1 68.97x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
Thomas 11
William 11
James 10
George 8
Henry 8
Robert 6
Edward 5
Charles 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Frederick 3
Gerald 3
Patrick 3
Frank 2
Jeremiah 2
Michael 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
A.C. 1
Alfd 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Anne 1
Austin 1
C.W. 1
Coventry 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Eli 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
H. 1
Herbert 1
Louis 1
Micael 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Saml.A. 1
Thos. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Carew surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carew surname in 1881?

In 1881, 280 people were recorded with the Carew surname. That placed it at #10,202 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carew surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 718 in 2016. That gives Carew a modern rank of #7,566.

What does the Carew surname mean?

A locational surname derived from any of several places in Wales, England, or France named Carew or Carrue.

What does the Carew map show?

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