NameCensus.

UK surname

Carmen

A surname of Spanish origin referring to somebody from Carmel or Mount Carmel, or having an association with Carmelite monasticism.

In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Carmen surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 183, ranked #20,813, down from #20,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southwark, Greenwich and Islington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carmen is 183 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 90.6%.

1881 census count

96

Ranked #20,248

Modern count

183

2016, ranked #20,813

Peak year

2016

183 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carmen had 96 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,248 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 183 in 2016, ranked #20,813.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 154 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Carmen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carmen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carmen 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 19 #29,904
1861 historical 105 #20,298
1881 historical 96 #20,248
1891 historical 87 #25,802
1901 historical 154 #17,775
1911 historical 81 #24,719
1997 modern 134 #22,608
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 142 #22,607
2000 modern 152 #21,603
2001 modern 135 #22,945
2002 modern 135 #23,398
2003 modern 119 #25,026
2004 modern 119 #25,200
2005 modern 128 #24,076
2006 modern 129 #24,165
2007 modern 140 #23,231
2008 modern 140 #23,511
2009 modern 144 #23,577
2010 modern 163 #22,205
2011 modern 163 #21,983
2012 modern 165 #21,782
2013 modern 174 #21,401
2014 modern 176 #21,413
2015 modern 177 #21,220
2016 modern 183 #20,813

Geography

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Where Carmens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, St Pancras and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southwark, Greenwich, Islington and East Hampshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southwark 012 Southwark
2 Greenwich 005 Greenwich
3 Greenwich 031 Greenwich
4 Islington 007 Islington
5 East Hampshire 006 East Hampshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carmen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carmen

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Carmen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Carmen 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 never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Carmen is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Carmen 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

Carmen 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 Carmen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Carmen

The surname Carmen originated in Spain and is derived from the Spanish word "carmen," which means "song" or "poem." The name's roots can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when it was commonly used as a nickname or a descriptive surname for individuals associated with music or poetry.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Carmen can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries in Spain. One notable example is the mention of a certain Juan Carmen in a legal document from the city of Seville, dated 1298. This individual's name likely referred to his occupation or talent as a poet or singer.

During the Renaissance period, the surname Carmen gained prominence in literary circles across Spain. One of the most renowned figures bearing this name was Pedro del Carmen, a celebrated poet and playwright from Seville, born in 1472 and died in 1538. His works, including the acclaimed play "La Celestina," have had a lasting impact on Spanish literature.

In the 16th century, the surname Carmen also appeared in records related to the Spanish colonization of the Americas. For instance, historical accounts mention a certain Francisco Carmen, a conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico in the 1520s. This suggests that individuals with the surname Carmen played a role in the exploration and settlement of the New World.

As the Spanish language and culture spread throughout the Americas, the surname Carmen took root in various regions, particularly in Mexico and Central America. One notable figure was Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1651-1695), a renowned Mexican nun, poet, and scholar who is considered one of the greatest writers of the Spanish Golden Age.

Another prominent individual with the surname Carmen was José María Carmen, a Venezuelan military leader and politician who played a crucial role in the country's struggle for independence from Spain in the early 19th century. He served as the President of Venezuela from 1835 to 1836.

Throughout history, the surname Carmen has been associated with various fields, including literature, music, and the arts. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Spain, the name has since spread globally, reflecting the far-reaching influence of Spanish culture and language.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carmen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carmen 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. Durham leads with 20 Carmens recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.18x.

County Total Index
Durham 20 7.18x
Norfolk 20 13.89x
Surrey 17 3.73x
Middlesex 16 1.71x
Lancashire 6 0.54x
Northamptonshire 5 5.68x
Leicestershire 4 3.85x
East Lothian 2 16.13x
Lincolnshire 2 1.34x
Cheshire 1 0.48x
Hampshire 1 0.52x
Kent 1 0.31x
Lanarkshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southwick in Durham leads with 12 Carmens recorded in 1881 and an index of 454.55x.

Place Total Index
Southwick 12 454.55x
St Pancras London 10 13.27x
Lakenham 7 341.46x
Lambeth 6 7.35x
Blackburn 5 16.91x
Camberwell 5 8.36x
Norwich St Swithin 5 2000.00x
Richmond 5 78.25x
Westoe 5 31.67x
Brixworth 4 1052.63x
Leicester St Margaret 4 15.80x
Heworth 3 54.64x
Mileham 3 1875.00x
St Marylebone London 3 6.00x
Islington London 2 2.20x
Spott 2 1052.63x
Stanhoe 2 1428.57x
Stibbard 2 1333.33x
Aldershot 1 15.55x
Barony 1 1.30x
Bermondsey 1 3.59x
Chelsea London 1 3.54x
Chester St Oswald 1 26.74x
Eastwell 1 2500.00x
Newbottle 1 588.24x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 1 107.53x
Pendleton In Salford 1 7.55x
St Peterat Arches 1 588.24x
Washingborough 1 434.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Mary 3
Ellen 2
Jane 2
Margaret 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Eleneor 1
Elinor 1
Ella 1
Elsie 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
H.W. 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Marianne 1
Martha 1
Rachael 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
George 5
Thomas 4
Henry 3
James 3
William 3
Edward 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
A. 1
Abel 1
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Harry 1
Joseph 1
Jospeh 1
Patrick 1
Saml. 1
Stephen 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Carmen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carmen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Carmen surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carmen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 183 in 2016. That gives Carmen a modern rank of #20,813.

What does the Carmen surname mean?

A surname of Spanish origin referring to somebody from Carmel or Mount Carmel, or having an association with Carmelite monasticism.

What does the Carmen map show?

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