UK surname
A surname derived from the Latin word "Carolus", meaning Charles or manly.
In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Carles surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 42, ranked #35,336, down from #28,559 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lambourn, Biddulph and St George in the East. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carles is 288 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.7%.
1881 census count
36
Ranked #28,559
Modern count
42
2016, ranked #35,336
Peak year
1861
288 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Carles surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Carles surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 61 | #22,412 |
| 1861 | historical | 288 | #8,743 |
| 1881 | historical | 36 | #28,559 |
| 1891 | historical | 98 | #24,313 |
| 1901 | historical | 30 | #30,724 |
| 1911 | historical | 21 | #31,179 |
| 1997 | modern | 17 | #36,181 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 13 | #36,635 |
| 2001 | modern | 12 | #36,612 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 17 | #36,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 19 | #36,247 |
| 2006 | modern | 19 | #36,323 |
| 2007 | modern | 26 | #35,932 |
| 2008 | modern | 28 | #35,875 |
| 2009 | modern | 28 | #35,988 |
| 2010 | modern | 29 | #36,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 30 | #35,949 |
| 2012 | modern | 30 | #35,929 |
| 2013 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
| 2014 | modern | 37 | #35,616 |
| 2015 | modern | 37 | #35,593 |
| 2016 | modern | 42 | #35,336 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lambourn, Biddulph, St George in the East, St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju and St Leonard Shoreditch. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lambourn | Berkshire |
| 2 | Biddulph | Cheshire |
| 3 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju | Norfolk |
| 5 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Carles surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Carles, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Carles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Carles household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Carles is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Carles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Carles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Carles originated in France, particularly in the southern region of Languedoc. It dates back to the 12th century and is believed to be derived from the Old French word "carle," meaning a peasant or a commoner. This suggests that the name may have originally been given to someone of humble origins or a serf.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Carles can be found in the Trésor de Chartes, a collection of medieval French charters and documents. In 1229, a certain Guillaume Carles was mentioned in a document from the city of Nîmes.
The Carles family was also present in the neighboring region of Provence, where they held land and properties. In the 14th century, a branch of the family settled in the village of Les Baux, which was renowned for its impressive fortress and medieval architecture.
During the Renaissance period, the name Carles gained prominence with the birth of Pierre Carles (1472-1536), a French humanist scholar and poet. He was well-known for his translations of classical Greek and Latin works, and his writings influenced the literary and intellectual circles of his time.
Another notable figure was Jean-Baptiste Carles (1765-1834), a French military officer who served under Napoleon Bonaparte. He participated in several major campaigns, including the Peninsular War and the Russian campaign, and was eventually promoted to the rank of General.
In the 19th century, the Carles family produced several notable figures in the fields of medicine and science. One of them was Alphonse Carles (1808-1892), a French physician and surgeon who made significant contributions to the field of obstetrics and gynecology.
Moving into the 20th century, the name Carles is associated with René Carles (1886-1951), a French artist and painter known for his Cubist and Fauvist works. He was a member of the prestigious Salon d'Automne and his paintings are displayed in several museums across France.
Another prominent individual with the surname Carles was Jacques Carles (1920-1990), a French screenwriter and film director. He collaborated with acclaimed directors such as Henri-Georges Clouzot and Jean-Pierre Melville, and his screenplays were highly regarded in the French cinema industry.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carles surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 14 Carles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.99x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 14 | 3.99x |
| Shropshire | 6 | 19.78x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 1.72x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 3.87x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 2.90x |
| Surrey | 2 | 1.17x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.44x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.24x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 2.13x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George In East London in Middlesex leads with 7 Carles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 212.12x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St George In East London | 7 | 212.12x |
| Llansilin | 6 | 2727.27x |
| St George Hanover Square | 6 | 96.93x |
| Leeds | 4 | 20.36x |
| Batley | 2 | 60.42x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 2 | 28.29x |
| Sutton In Macclesfield | 2 | 250.00x |
| Barton Upon Irwell | 1 | 31.85x |
| Burnham | 1 | 384.62x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 5.28x |
| Gloucester St Nicholas | 1 | 312.50x |
| Islington London | 1 | 2.94x |
| Little Neston | 1 | 833.33x |
| Wotton Ville | 1 | 1428.57x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Carles surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Carles surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Carles households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| General Labourer | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Lab Wife | 1 |
| Corn Miller | 1 |
| Farmers Labourer | 1 |
| Hairdresser | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Rag Sorter (Woollen) | 1 |
| Riverside Lab | 1 |
| Servant Of All Work | 1 |
| Silk Weaver (Unemployed) | 1 |
| Unemployed Clerk | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Carles surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 42 in 2016. That gives Carles a modern rank of #35,336.
A surname derived from the Latin word "Carolus", meaning Charles or manly.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Carles bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.