NameCensus.

UK surname

Carlsen

A patronymic surname of Scandinavian origin, meaning "son of Carl," derived from the Old Norse name Karl, meaning "free man."

In the 1881 census there were 28 people recorded with the Carlsen surname, ranking it #29,646 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 157, ranked #23,006, up from #29,646 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmondshire, South Lakeland and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carlsen is 163 in 2005. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 460.7%.

1881 census count

28

Ranked #29,646

Modern count

157

2016, ranked #23,006

Peak year

2005

163 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carlsen had 28 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,646 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016, ranked #23,006.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 82 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Carlsen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carlsen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carlsen 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 28 #29,646
1891 historical 71 #27,934
1901 historical 82 #25,019
1911 historical 66 #26,249
1997 modern 127 #23,352
1998 modern 141 #22,517
1999 modern 151 #21,740
2000 modern 157 #21,146
2001 modern 152 #21,294
2002 modern 162 #20,839
2003 modern 159 #20,881
2004 modern 158 #21,077
2005 modern 163 #20,627
2006 modern 158 #21,229
2007 modern 153 #21,912
2008 modern 152 #22,225
2009 modern 149 #23,031
2010 modern 150 #23,482
2011 modern 161 #22,187
2012 modern 145 #23,780
2013 modern 155 #23,108
2014 modern 154 #23,439
2015 modern 150 #23,718
2016 modern 157 #23,006

Geography

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Where Carlsens 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 Richmondshire, South Lakeland, Swansea, Monmouthshire and Wirral. 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 Richmondshire 001 Richmondshire
2 South Lakeland 008 South Lakeland
3 Swansea 029 Swansea
4 Monmouthshire 001 Monmouthshire
5 Wirral 015 Wirral

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carlsen

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carlsen

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Carlsen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Carlsen 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Carlsen is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Carlsen 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

Carlsen falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Carlsen 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Carlsen

The surname Carlsen is of Scandinavian origin, specifically from Denmark and Norway. It is derived from the Old Norse personal name Karl, which means "man" or "warrior". The addition of the suffix "-sen" indicates "son of".

Carlsen was a common patronymic surname in medieval Denmark and Norway, denoting the son of a man named Karl. It was particularly prevalent in areas with a strong Viking influence, such as the coastal regions of Norway and the Danish islands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Carlsen dates back to the 13th century, when a man named Thorstein Carlsen was mentioned in the Icelandic sagas. These ancient literary works provide valuable insights into the naming conventions and cultural practices of the time.

In the 14th century, the name Carlsen appeared in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of medieval Norwegian documents. This suggests that the surname was well-established in Norway during this period.

The Carlsen family has a long and distinguished history in Scandinavia. Notable individuals bearing this surname include:

1. Sven Carlsen (1506-1583), a Danish astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics. 2. Niels Carlsen (1808-1879), a Norwegian ship-owner and merchant who played a pivotal role in the development of Norway's maritime industry. 3. Emil Carlsen (1848-1932), an American painter of Danish descent, known for his masterful depictions of coastal landscapes and seascapes. 4. Magnus Carlsen (born 1990), the current World Chess Champion from Norway, who has held the title since 2013. 5. Inger Lise Carlsen (born 1968), a Norwegian actress and film director, renowned for her performances in several critically acclaimed movies.

While the surname Carlsen has its roots in Scandinavia, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration patterns. However, its historical significance can be traced back to the Viking Age and the rich cultural heritage of Denmark and Norway.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carlsen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carlsen 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 6 Carlsens recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.80x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 6 6.80x
Durham 3 3.70x
Midlothian 3 8.21x
Northumberland 3 7.39x
Kent 2 2.15x
Middlesex 2 0.73x
Surrey 2 1.50x
Cornwall 1 3.24x
Glamorgan 1 2.10x
Gloucestershire 1 1.87x
Lancashire 1 0.31x
Lincolnshire 1 2.29x
Shetland 1 35.84x
Yorkshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 6 Carlsens recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.50x.

Place Total Index
Govan 6 27.50x
South Shields 3 416.67x
Leith North 2 2857.14x
North Shields 2 246.91x
Rotherhithe 2 59.35x
Bedlington 1 73.53x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 111.11x
Falmouth 1 91.74x
Gloucester 1 5000.00x
Goole 1 222.22x
Great Grimsby 1 36.10x
Leith South 1 2000.00x
Lerwick 1 5000.00x
Liverpool 1 5.09x
Lydd 1 500.00x
Paddington London 1 9.97x
Swansea 1 2000.00x
Whitechapel London 1 37.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ida 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Carl 2
Hans 2
Arnil 1
Axel 1
Bernhard 1
Bernt 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Helmer 1
Herman 1
J. 1
Joh 1
John 1
Ole 1
William 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 Carlsen households.

FAQ

Carlsen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carlsen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 28 people were recorded with the Carlsen surname. That placed it at #29,646 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carlsen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016. That gives Carlsen a modern rank of #23,006.

What does the Carlsen surname mean?

A patronymic surname of Scandinavian origin, meaning "son of Carl," derived from the Old Norse name Karl, meaning "free man."

What does the Carlsen map show?

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