NameCensus.

UK surname

Carnall

An English surname derived from the Old French word "carnal," meaning "fleshly."

In the 1881 census there were 559 people recorded with the Carnall surname, ranking it #6,192 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 875, ranked #6,427, down from #6,192 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Beighton, Trentham and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hinckley and Bosworth, East Devon and Charnwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carnall is 892 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.5%.

1881 census count

559

Ranked #6,192

Modern count

875

2016, ranked #6,427

Peak year

2014

892 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carnall had 559 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,192 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 875 in 2016, ranked #6,427.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 785 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Carnall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carnall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carnall 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 476 #5,228
1861 historical 431 #5,963
1881 historical 559 #6,192
1891 historical 668 #5,829
1901 historical 749 #5,949
1911 historical 785 #5,548
1997 modern 771 #6,731
1998 modern 876 #6,292
1999 modern 889 #6,268
2000 modern 857 #6,412
2001 modern 848 #6,351
2002 modern 859 #6,417
2003 modern 826 #6,476
2004 modern 839 #6,411
2005 modern 820 #6,477
2006 modern 814 #6,522
2007 modern 824 #6,532
2008 modern 816 #6,629
2009 modern 852 #6,556
2010 modern 874 #6,549
2011 modern 862 #6,542
2012 modern 866 #6,432
2013 modern 890 #6,391
2014 modern 892 #6,417
2015 modern 887 #6,386
2016 modern 875 #6,427

Geography

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Where Carnalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Beighton, Trentham, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Sheffield and Syston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hinckley and Bosworth, East Devon, Charnwood and Sheffield. 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 Beighton Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Trentham Staffordshire
3 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Syston Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hinckley and Bosworth 007 Hinckley and Bosworth
2 East Devon 002 East Devon
3 Charnwood 015 Charnwood
4 Sheffield 056 Sheffield
5 Sheffield 049 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carnall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carnall

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Carnall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Carnall household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Carnall 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

Carnall is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Carnall falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Carnall 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 Carnall, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Carnall

The surname Carnall is of English origin, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "carn," meaning a heap or pile of stones, often referring to a cairn or rocky hill. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who resided near such geographical features.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire in the Midlands region of England. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a mention of a William Carnal residing in Derbyshire. Similarly, the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list a John Carnall from Staffordshire.

During the medieval period, variations in the spelling of the name were common, with entries such as Carnell, Carnel, and Carnill appearing in various records. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the Old French word "carnel," which referred to a small enclosure or pen for livestock.

One notable historical figure bearing the name Carnall was John Carnall, a prominent English clergyman who lived from 1599 to 1670. He served as the Archdeacon of Newark and was known for his scholarly works on theology and church history.

Another individual of note was William Carnall, born in 1633, who was a respected lawyer and served as the Recorder of Nottingham, a position of legal authority, during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, Thomas Carnall, born in 1745, gained recognition as a skilled architect. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in Derbyshire, including the Crescent in Buxton, a prestigious residential area.

Moving into the 19th century, Samuel Carnall, born in 1823, made his mark as a prominent industrialist and philanthropist. He established the Carnall Ironworks in Staffordshire and was known for his charitable contributions to local communities.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the legacy of Sir John Carnall, born in 1899, who had a distinguished career in the British Civil Service. He served as the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and was knighted for his contributions to public service.

While the Carnall surname may not be as widespread as some others, its rich history and connections to various notable figures throughout the centuries have cemented its place as a unique and enduring part of English heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carnall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carnall 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. Yorkshire leads with 161 Carnalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.95x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 161 2.95x
Staffordshire 111 5.98x
Leicestershire 63 10.33x
Devon 58 5.06x
Derbyshire 52 6.04x
Nottinghamshire 26 3.51x
Warwickshire 18 1.30x
Middlesex 17 0.31x
Surrey 12 0.45x
Gloucestershire 11 1.02x
Lancashire 9 0.14x
Cornwall 7 1.12x
Worcestershire 6 0.84x
Monmouthshire 3 0.75x
Kent 2 0.11x
Wiltshire 2 0.41x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Durham 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.26x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Shropshire 1 0.21x
Somerset 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 81 Carnalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.67x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 81 46.67x
Stoke Upon Trent 33 16.76x
Trentham 29 183.66x
Beighton 23 589.74x
Ecclesall Bierlow 18 16.23x
Nether Hallam 18 24.40x
Barkby 16 1344.54x
Brightside Bierlow 15 14.03x
Leicester St Margaret 13 8.74x
Stone 13 54.74x
Syston 13 227.67x
Eckington 10 47.80x
Litchurch 10 28.85x
Nottingham St Mary 10 5.21x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 9 17.72x
Knighton 9 261.63x
Newcastle Under Lyme 9 27.39x
Caverswall 8 82.90x
Humberstone 8 159.68x
Aston 7 1.83x
Ecclesfield 7 17.51x
Exeter St Sidwell 7 26.69x
Fowey 7 244.76x
Tyrley 7 486.11x
Battersea 6 2.96x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 16.68x
Kings Norton 6 9.31x
Wavertree 6 28.71x
Coventry Holy Trinity 5 12.07x
Exeter St Thomas The 5 42.84x
Gringley On Hill 5 318.47x
Kimberworth 5 16.52x
Long Eaton 5 43.98x
South Molton 5 79.49x
Wolstanton 5 8.87x
Wolverhampton 5 3.50x
Dunsford 4 273.97x
Exeter St George The 4 317.46x
Handsworth 4 27.76x
Mile End Old Town London 4 3.42x
Shoreditch London 4 1.68x
St Pancras London 4 0.90x
Upton Pyne 4 519.48x
Zeal Monachorum 4 454.55x
Gamston 3 638.30x
Penge 3 8.54x
Plumtree 3 384.62x
Rugby 3 15.98x
Stonehouse 3 48.94x
Windlesham 3 59.52x
Wolborough 3 20.72x
Bedwas 2 69.44x
Belgrave 2 14.52x
Birmingham 2 0.43x
Bovey Tracey 2 49.88x
Carlton 2 23.64x
Clist Hydon 2 384.62x
Cornworthy 2 253.16x
Everleigh 2 298.51x
Glossop Dale 2 4.96x
Liverpool 2 0.50x
Saddleworth 2 4.76x
Sidmouth 2 30.49x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.06x
Tormoham 2 4.13x
Aylesbeare 1 60.24x
Burton Extra 1 9.39x
Cottam 1 500.00x
Doddington 1 344.83x
Exeter St David 1 10.22x
Leeds 1 0.32x
Loughborough 1 3.61x
Nantwich 1 7.09x
Paignton 1 11.48x
Powderham 1 188.68x
Silverton 1 42.02x
Snenton 1 3.43x
South Collingham 1 68.49x
Walsall Foreign 1 1.04x
Winshill 1 18.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Sarah 29
Elizabeth 24
Ann 17
Emma 10
Jane 10
Alice 9
Annie 9
Ellen 9
Martha 9
Fanny 7
Hannah 7
Agnes 6
Eliza 6
Maria 6
Emily 5
Florence 5
Harriet 5
Ada 4
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Clara 4
Edith 4
Amelia 3
Beatrice 3
Esther 3
Margaret 3
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Flora 2
Helen 2
Henrietta 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Mina 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Rosa 2
Amy 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Emly 1
Hy. 1
Isobella 1
Jannet 1
Trephina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 33
William 28
George 26
Joseph 19
Thomas 15
Henry 14
Arthur 9
James 9
Wm. 7
Albert 6
Charles 6
Harry 6
Frederick 5
Samuel 5
Herbert 4
Jos. 4
Thos. 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
Chas 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.Willm. 1
Hiram 1
Hurbet 1
I.D. 1
J.C. 1
Jas. 1
Joshua 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Ned 1
Needham 1
Nelson 1
Oliver 1
Reuben 1
Ricd. 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Sarah 1
Seth 1

FAQ

Carnall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carnall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 559 people were recorded with the Carnall surname. That placed it at #6,192 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carnall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 875 in 2016. That gives Carnall a modern rank of #6,427.

What does the Carnall surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French word "carnal," meaning "fleshly."

What does the Carnall map show?

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