UK surname
A surname derived from the Latin word meaning "fleshly" or "sensual".
In the 1881 census there were 50 people recorded with the Carnal surname, ranking it #26,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #26,587 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Trentham, Watton and Walpole St Peter and St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carnal is 115 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 98.0%.
1881 census count
50
Ranked #26,587
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1851
115 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Carnal surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Carnal surname density by area, 1851 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 | 115 | #15,634 |
| 1861 | historical | 77 | #23,975 |
| 1881 | historical | 50 | #26,587 |
| 1891 | historical | 16 | #32,868 |
| 1901 | historical | 32 | #30,501 |
| 1911 | historical | 21 | #31,179 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Trentham, Watton, Walpole St Peter and St Andrew, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Sheffield. 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 | Trentham | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Watton | Nottinghamshire |
| 3 | Walpole St Peter and St Andrew | Cambridgeshire |
| 4 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| 5 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Carnal 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 Carnal, 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 Carnal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Carnal 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, Carnal 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 Carnal is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Carnal, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Carnal has its roots in the medieval era, originating from the Old French word "carnel," which referred to a person's physical or fleshly nature. This name likely emerged in regions of France during the 11th or 12th century.
As the name spread across Europe, it took on various spellings, such as Carnall, Carnalle, and Carnault. It is believed that the name was initially used as a descriptive nickname, possibly referring to someone with a robust or sensual appearance or demeanor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Carnal can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, England, dating back to 1195. This document mentions a William Carnal, who was involved in a legal dispute over land ownership.
In the 13th century, the name Carnal appeared in several historical records across England and France. For instance, a John Carnal was listed as a landowner in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1279.
Notable bearers of the Carnal surname include Sir William Carnal, a English knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century. Another prominent figure was Thomas Carnal, a merchant and alderman in the city of London, who lived from 1525 to 1591.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Carnal name gained prominence in various parts of Europe. In France, the village of Carnal-sur-Loire was named after a family bearing this surname, indicating their influence in the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in Scotland can be found in the records of the Burgh of Aberdeen, where a John Carnal is mentioned as a merchant in the year 1638.
In the literary realm, the English poet and playwright Ben Jonson (1572-1637) featured a character named Carnal in his satirical play "The Devil is an Ass," which was first performed in 1616.
As the name spread throughout the British Isles and beyond, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Carnall, Carnell, and Carneal. Notable bearers of these variants include Sir John Carnell, a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century.
While the surname Carnal is not as common today as it once was, it continues to be found in various parts of the world, serving as a reminder of its rich historical origins and the diverse paths it has taken over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carnal 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 8 Carnals recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.64x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.64x |
| Devon | 7 | 6.90x |
| Nottinghamshire | 6 | 9.13x |
| Warwickshire | 6 | 4.88x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 5.00x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 5.24x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 2.43x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.80x |
| Wiltshire | 3 | 6.96x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.35x |
| Huntingdonshire | 1 | 10.33x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.85x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bampton in Devon leads with 6 Carnals recorded in 1881 and an index of 1935.48x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bampton | 6 | 1935.48x |
| Coventry St Michael | 6 | 151.90x |
| Gamston | 5 | 12500.00x |
| St John Winchester | 5 | 2380.95x |
| St Marylebone London | 5 | 19.21x |
| Unstone | 4 | 1333.33x |
| Urchfont | 3 | 1666.67x |
| Rochester St Nicholas | 2 | 384.62x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 10.21x |
| Trentham | 2 | 142.86x |
| Babworth | 1 | 833.33x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 4.72x |
| East Budleigh | 1 | 208.33x |
| Hollingbourn | 1 | 526.32x |
| Huntingdon St John | 1 | 357.14x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.69x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 7.59x |
| Rugeley | 1 | 84.75x |
| St George In East London | 1 | 21.79x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 5.73x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Carnal 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 Carnal 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 Carnal households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carter (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Chimney Sweep | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Formerly Laundress | 1 |
| Horse Driver | 1 |
| Miner (C) | 1 |
| Nurse (Domestic Serv) | 1 |
| Potters Burnisher | 1 |
| Potters Jigger Turner | 1 |
| Potters Placer | 1 |
| Retired Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Ships Cook | 1 |
| Ships Cooks Wife | 1 |
| Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Silk Winder | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Woolsorter | 1 |
| Work At Home | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 50 people were recorded with the Carnal surname. That placed it at #26,587 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Carnal a modern rank of #39,061.
A surname derived from the Latin word meaning "fleshly" or "sensual".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Carnal 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.