UK surname
Derived from a place name, likely of Old English origin meaning "from the dweller near the meadow or pasture".
In the 1881 census there were 155 people recorded with the Carly surname, ranking it #15,174 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 44, ranked #35,224, down from #15,174 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lewisham, London parishes and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carly is 253 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 71.6%.
1881 census count
155
Ranked #15,174
Modern count
44
2016, ranked #35,224
Peak year
1861
253 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Carly surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Carly surname density by area, 1881 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 | 169 | #11,832 |
| 1861 | historical | 253 | #9,764 |
| 1881 | historical | 155 | #15,174 |
| 1891 | historical | 137 | #19,501 |
| 1901 | historical | 88 | #24,270 |
| 1911 | historical | 69 | #25,965 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 21 | #35,799 |
| 2001 | modern | 19 | #35,866 |
| 2002 | modern | 16 | #36,267 |
| 2003 | modern | 15 | #36,415 |
| 2004 | modern | 16 | #36,439 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 17 | #36,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 19 | #36,534 |
| 2009 | modern | 26 | #36,111 |
| 2010 | modern | 30 | #35,967 |
| 2011 | modern | 30 | #35,949 |
| 2012 | modern | 42 | #35,269 |
| 2013 | modern | 43 | #35,271 |
| 2014 | modern | 41 | #35,396 |
| 2015 | modern | 41 | #35,383 |
| 2016 | modern | 44 | #35,224 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lewisham, London parishes, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, St Anne Limehouse and Brighton. 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 | Lewisham | London (South Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 4 | St Anne Limehouse | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Brighton | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Carly 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 Carly, 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 Carly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Carly 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, Carly 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 Carly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Carly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Carly originates from the Yorkshire region of England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cærlic" or "cærlic-man," which translates to "churlish" or "peasant-like." This suggests that the name may have been used to describe someone of a coarse or uncouth nature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Carly can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which mentions a person named "Willelmus Carly." This document was a record of financial transactions and accounts kept by the English Exchequer during the reign of King Henry II.
In the 13th century, the Carly surname appeared in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, a census-like record of landholders and their holdings across various counties in England. This document listed individuals such as "Walterus Carly" and "Johannes Carly" as residents of Yorkshire.
During the 14th century, the surname Carly was also found in the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which recorded individuals liable for paying a tax levied by the English government at the time. This document listed names like "Robertus Carly" and "Willelmus Carly" from various locations in Yorkshire.
One notable individual bearing the Carly surname was Sir John Carly, a knight who lived in the late 15th century and was mentioned in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence between members of the Paston family in Norfolk. Sir John Carly was involved in a legal dispute over land ownership during the Wars of the Roses.
Another historical figure with the Carly surname was Robert Carly, a merchant and alderman who lived in York during the 16th century. He was mentioned in the York Civic Records of 1550 and played a prominent role in the city's affairs.
In the 17th century, the Carly surname appeared in the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, which recorded births, marriages, and deaths in the local community. Examples of entries include the baptism of "Thomas Carly" in 1621 and the marriage of "Anne Carly" in 1643.
The Carly surname can also be traced back to the village of Carlby in Lincolnshire, which was recorded as "Carlebi" in the Domesday Book of 1086. It is possible that some individuals with the surname Carly may have originated from or been associated with this location.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carly 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. Surrey leads with 41 Carlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.99x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 41 | 5.99x |
| Kent | 22 | 4.59x |
| Lancashire | 15 | 0.90x |
| Middlesex | 15 | 1.07x |
| Sussex | 10 | 4.22x |
| Cumberland | 6 | 4.96x |
| Devon | 6 | 2.05x |
| Essex | 5 | 1.80x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 1.91x |
| Monmouthshire | 3 | 2.95x |
| Northamptonshire | 3 | 2.27x |
| Angus | 2 | 1.54x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.69x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 0.93x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 1.06x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.14x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.32x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.24x |
| Inverness-shire | 1 | 2.38x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.53x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 12 Carlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.37x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Camberwell | 12 | 13.37x |
| Chiswick | 9 | 117.19x |
| Battersea | 7 | 13.54x |
| Hawkhurst | 7 | 469.80x |
| Waldron | 7 | 1076.92x |
| Croydon | 6 | 15.79x |
| Lambeth | 6 | 4.90x |
| Marden | 6 | 535.71x |
| Millom | 6 | 161.73x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 6 | 26.64x |
| Woolwich | 6 | 33.88x |
| Leyton | 5 | 104.60x |
| Haydock | 4 | 139.37x |
| Hexham | 4 | 123.84x |
| Newington | 4 | 7.71x |
| Rotherhithe | 4 | 23.05x |
| St Gilesin Fields London | 4 | 336.13x |
| Cranbrook | 3 | 147.78x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 2.96x |
| Southwick | 3 | 2307.69x |
| Uckfield | 3 | 291.26x |
| Barton Upon Irwell | 2 | 15.94x |
| Dundee | 2 | 4.12x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 2 | 7.06x |
| Everton | 2 | 3.77x |
| Thetford St Cuthbert | 2 | 256.41x |
| Alverstoke | 1 | 9.60x |
| Bedwellty | 1 | 5.58x |
| Eccleston In Prescot | 1 | 11.95x |
| Edinburgh New | 1 | 68.49x |
| Elston | 1 | 454.55x |
| Haslemere | 1 | 185.19x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 1 | 5.52x |
| Inverness | 1 | 9.48x |
| Islington London | 1 | 0.73x |
| Litherland | 1 | 28.74x |
| Llangattock Nigh Usk | 1 | 909.09x |
| Ormskirk | 1 | 31.35x |
| Portsea | 1 | 1.77x |
| Preston | 1 | 2.24x |
| Richmond | 1 | 10.43x |
| Rolleston | 1 | 909.09x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.33x |
| Timperley | 1 | 92.59x |
| Trevethin | 1 | 10.43x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Carly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 10 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Emily | 4 |
| Catherine | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Louisa | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Elizath. | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Grace | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| C. | 1 |
| Cath. | 1 |
| Eliz. | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florance | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| George | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Lizzie | 1 |
| Mabel | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Naomi | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| Violet | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Carly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 8 |
| William | 6 |
| Henry | 4 |
| James | 4 |
| Thomas | 4 |
| Daniel | 3 |
| Jeremiah | 3 |
| Richard | 3 |
| Edmund | 2 |
| George | 2 |
| Jno. | 2 |
| Joseph | 2 |
| Arthur | 1 |
| Charles | 1 |
| Chas.H. | 1 |
| Edward | 1 |
| Edwin | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frank | 1 |
| Frederick | 1 |
| Fredk. | 1 |
| Geo. | 1 |
| Herbert | 1 |
| Jessee | 1 |
| Michael | 1 |
| Michel | 1 |
| Pateey | 1 |
| Patrick | 1 |
| Peter | 1 |
| Phillip | 1 |
| Robert | 1 |
| Thos. | 1 |
| Wm. | 1 |
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 Carly households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 20 |
| Ag Lab | 6 |
| Childrens Robe Dress Maker | 3 |
| Fire Wood Cutter (Mcht) | 3 |
| Infant | 2 |
| Iron Miner | 2 |
| Tailor | 2 |
| Wood Chopper | 2 |
| Assistant Teacher (Sch) | 1 |
| Bailiff | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Coalminer | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cook (Domestic) | 1 |
| Daughter Of Gas Fitter | 1 |
| Dock Laborer | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engineers Wife | 1 |
| Gardeners Lab | 1 |
| Gas Fitter | 1 |
| Gen Servant | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Genl Labourer | 1 |
| Genl Servt | 1 |
| Governess Prof | 1 |
| Grocers Warehouseman | 1 |
| Insurance Canvasser | 1 |
| Lab | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer Bricklayers | 1 |
| Labourer Chemical Yd | 1 |
| Labourer In Iron Works | 1 |
| Labr | 1 |
| Laundry Girl | 1 |
| Market Porter | 1 |
| Milliner's Assist | 1 |
| Nurse (Monthly) | 1 |
| Nurse Girl | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Printer Compositor | 1 |
| Printers Compositor | 1 |
| Private | 1 |
| Sailmaker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 155 people were recorded with the Carly surname. That placed it at #15,174 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 44 in 2016. That gives Carly a modern rank of #35,224.
Derived from a place name, likely of Old English origin meaning "from the dweller near the meadow or pasture".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Carly 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.