NameCensus.

UK surname

Carleton

A locational surname derived from various places in England, likely referring to a settlement or town.

In the 1881 census there were 181 people recorded with the Carleton surname, ranking it #13,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 366, ranked #12,690, up from #13,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Carlisle St Cuthbert, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Derbyshire, Tower Hamlets and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carleton is 398 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 102.2%.

1881 census count

181

Ranked #13,690

Modern count

366

2016, ranked #12,690

Peak year

1998

398 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carleton had 181 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 366 in 2016, ranked #12,690.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 216 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Carleton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carleton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Carleton 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 149 #12,967
1861 historical 129 #17,271
1881 historical 181 #13,690
1891 historical 216 #14,107
1901 historical 195 #15,380
1911 historical 207 #14,635
1997 modern 383 #11,359
1998 modern 398 #11,377
1999 modern 393 #11,602
2000 modern 398 #11,443
2001 modern 374 #11,805
2002 modern 384 #11,794
2003 modern 375 #11,808
2004 modern 372 #11,886
2005 modern 369 #11,901
2006 modern 372 #11,878
2007 modern 373 #12,005
2008 modern 373 #12,104
2009 modern 390 #11,950
2010 modern 398 #12,039
2011 modern 391 #12,062
2012 modern 373 #12,344
2013 modern 371 #12,597
2014 modern 379 #12,483
2015 modern 369 #12,627
2016 modern 366 #12,690

Geography

Back to top

Where Carletons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Carlisle St Cuthbert, Edinburgh, Manchester, Penrith and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Derbyshire, Tower Hamlets, Wirral, Isle of Wight and Aylesbury Vale. 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 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Penrith Cumberland
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Derbyshire 011 South Derbyshire
2 Tower Hamlets 020 Tower Hamlets
3 Wirral 015 Wirral
4 Isle of Wight 018 Isle of Wight
5 Aylesbury Vale 006 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Carleton

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Carleton

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Carleton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Carleton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Carleton 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

Carleton 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

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

Meaning and origin of Carleton

The surname Carleton originates from England and dates back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from several places in various counties, including Carleton in Norfolk, Carleton in Yorkshire, and Carlton in Cambridgeshire, among others. The name is thought to derive from the Old English words "cær" meaning rock or stone, and "tun" meaning settlement or enclosure, essentially translating to "settlement by the rocks or stones."

The earliest recorded instance of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as Carlentun and Carlentune, representing the places now known as Carleton in Norfolk and Carleton in Lincolnshire. These early spellings highlight the name's evolution over time.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname is William de Carleton, who lived in the late 12th century and held lands in Lincolnshire. Another notable figure is Sir Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester (1724-1808), a British soldier and administrator who served as Governor of Quebec during the American Revolutionary War.

The surname Carleton has been associated with several prominent figures throughout history. Sir Dudley Carleton (1573-1632) was an English diplomat and politician who served as Ambassador to the Netherlands and later as Secretary of State. Thomas Carleton (1599-1666) was an English theologian and Bishop of Llandaff. Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester (1724-1808), mentioned earlier, played a significant role in the defense of Quebec during the American Revolutionary War and later served as Governor-General of British North America.

In the United States, the name is closely associated with the Carleton family of Virginia, who settled in the colony in the 17th century. One notable member was Edward Carleton (1605-1675), a prominent planter and member of the House of Burgesses. Another notable American was Mark Alfred Carleton (1866-1925), a botanist and agronomist who made significant contributions to the study of plant breeding and crop improvement.

The Carleton surname has been present in various regions of England for centuries and has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America, due to emigration. Despite variations in spelling, such as Carlton and Charlton, the name's origins can be traced back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon settlements in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Carleton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carleton 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. Lanarkshire leads with 28 Carletons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.88x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 28 4.88x
Cumberland 26 17.01x
Surrey 22 2.54x
Lancashire 20 0.95x
Westmorland 13 33.32x
Yorkshire 10 0.57x
Kent 9 1.49x
Somerset 9 3.15x
Norfolk 7 2.56x
Sussex 6 2.00x
Midlothian 5 2.10x
Renfrewshire 5 3.63x
Devon 4 1.08x
Ayrshire 3 2.26x
Durham 3 0.57x
Middlesex 3 0.17x
Staffordshire 3 0.50x
Bedfordshire 1 1.09x
Berkshire 1 0.75x
Gloucestershire 1 0.29x
Hampshire 1 0.27x
Royal Navy 1 4.73x
Suffolk 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 13 Carletons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.95x.

Place Total Index
Barony 13 8.95x
Croydon 11 22.91x
Appleby St Michael 8 909.09x
Lower Halstow 8 1818.18x
St Cuthbert Within 8 451.98x
Walcot 7 45.99x
Brighton 6 9.94x
Cambuslang 6 103.63x
Everton 6 8.94x
Govan 6 4.23x
Holy Trinity 6 14.18x
Lambeth 6 3.88x
Penrith 6 106.19x
Abbey 5 23.82x
Moulton St Michael 5 2272.73x
Yanwath Eamont Bridge 5 2777.78x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 4.18x
Liverpool 4 3.13x
Warrington 4 16.02x
Windle 4 33.76x
Caldewgate 3 35.84x
Newington 3 4.57x
Parton 3 333.33x
Cleator 2 31.45x
Exeter Heavitree 2 72.46x
Girvan 2 59.88x
Glasgow 2 1.96x
Leeds 2 2.01x
St Pancras London 2 1.40x
Tormoham 2 12.79x
Ayr 1 15.95x
Bath St Peter St Paul 1 79.37x
Bilston 1 8.61x
Bishopthorpe 1 294.12x
Camberwell 1 0.88x
Coundon Grange 1 86.21x
Edinburgh Old 1 69.44x
Gate Fulford 1 24.33x
Horfield 1 28.57x
Lazonby 1 250.00x
Litherland 1 22.73x
Milton Bryant 1 714.29x
Newton Regny Catterlen 1 555.56x
Norwich St Margaret 1 238.10x
Norwich St Peter 1 55.87x
Orton 1 357.14x
Plumpton Wall 1 476.19x
Portsea 1 1.40x
Royal Navy 1 5.53x
Sandhurst 1 38.76x
Shettleston 1 19.46x
Southwark St John 1 18.42x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.20x
Sunderland 1 10.72x
Thelnetham 1 416.67x
Tipton 1 5.45x
West Derby 1 1.62x
Weston Super Mare 1 13.85x
Whittington 1 81.30x
Winlaton 1 19.72x
Woolwich 1 4.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 14
William 8
Thomas 6
Joseph 4
Henry 3
James 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Horace 2
Hugh 2
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
B.F.W. 1
Bowman 1
Cornelius 1
E. 1
Edwd. 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Freddy 1
George 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Lancelot 1
Maurice 1
Michael 1
Montgomery 1
Richd. 1
Royce 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Carleton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carleton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 181 people were recorded with the Carleton surname. That placed it at #13,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carleton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 366 in 2016. That gives Carleton a modern rank of #12,690.

What does the Carleton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from various places in England, likely referring to a settlement or town.

What does the Carleton map show?

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