NameCensus.

UK surname

Carnes

An English occupational surname referring to a meat seller, derived from the Old French word "carn" meaning "flesh."

In the 1881 census there were 153 people recorded with the Carnes surname, ranking it #15,320 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 107, ranked #29,762, down from #15,320 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Durham St Oswald, Batley and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carnes is 259 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.1%.

1881 census count

153

Ranked #15,320

Modern count

107

2016, ranked #29,762

Peak year

1861

259 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carnes had 153 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,320 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016, ranked #29,762.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 259 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Carnes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carnes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carnes 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 133 #14,106
1861 historical 259 #9,561
1881 historical 153 #15,320
1891 historical 181 #16,065
1901 historical 112 #21,382
1911 historical 105 #22,064
1997 modern 95 #27,638
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 112 #26,044
2000 modern 98 #27,988
2001 modern 101 #27,252
2002 modern 108 #26,698
2003 modern 96 #28,381
2004 modern 94 #28,896
2005 modern 95 #28,817
2006 modern 97 #28,793
2007 modern 103 #28,187
2008 modern 105 #28,180
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 109 #28,831
2011 modern 108 #28,811
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 116 #27,992
2014 modern 118 #27,961
2015 modern 113 #28,645
2016 modern 107 #29,762

Geography

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Where Carnes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Durham St Oswald, Batley, St Marylebone, Brancepeth and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Pembrokeshire and Kingston upon Thames. 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 Durham St Oswald Durham
2 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
4 Brancepeth Durham
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle-under-Lyme 005 Newcastle-under-Lyme
2 Stoke-on-Trent 032 Stoke-on-Trent
3 Stafford 003 Stafford
4 Pembrokeshire 004 Pembrokeshire
5 Kingston upon Thames 013 Kingston upon Thames

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carnes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carnes

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Carnes, 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 Carnes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Carnes 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Carnes is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Carnes is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Carnes falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Carnes

The surname Carnes has its origins in the Latin word "carnis" meaning flesh or meat. It is believed to have originated in France during the medieval period, likely referring to an occupation such as a butcher or someone involved in the meat trade.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in French documents dating back to the 12th century, with variations in spelling such as Carnes, Carneys, and Carnay. Some of these early records mention individuals like Robert de Carnes, who lived in Normandy in the early 1200s.

As the name spread across Europe, it took on various forms in different regions. In England, it was often written as Carnes or Carnys, while in Scotland, the spelling Carnegy was more common. The name can also be found in historical records from Spain, where it was spelled Carneros.

One notable figure bearing this surname was Edward Carnegy, a Scottish politician and landowner who lived from 1598 to 1658. He played a significant role in the Scottish Civil War and was a prominent supporter of the Royalist cause.

Another individual of note was Sir Robert Carnes, an English military officer who served during the War of the Spanish Succession in the early 18th century. He was recognized for his bravery and leadership in several battles against the French forces.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Carnes family settled in Ireland, where the name was sometimes anglicized to Carney or Kearney. One of the earliest recorded Irish bearers of the name was William Carnes, who was born in County Galway in the late 1500s.

The name Carnes can also be found in historical documents from Germany, where it was sometimes spelled Karnes or Karnies. One notable German bearer of the name was Johann Karnes, a 17th-century scholar and philosopher who wrote extensively on metaphysics and ethics.

Throughout its history, the surname Carnes has been associated with various occupations, from butchers and meat traders to scholars and military leaders. Its origins can be traced back to medieval France, and it has since spread across Europe, taking on various forms and spellings in different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carnes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carnes 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. Lancashire leads with 41 Carnes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.32x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 41 2.32x
Durham 30 6.76x
Yorkshire 26 1.76x
Cheshire 14 4.25x
Middlesex 10 0.67x
Surrey 7 0.96x
Warwickshire 7 1.86x
Somerset 5 2.08x
Lanarkshire 3 0.62x
Devon 2 0.64x
Lincolnshire 2 0.84x
Bedfordshire 1 1.29x
Caernarfonshire 1 1.66x
Dorset 1 1.02x
Dumfriesshire 1 3.03x
Glamorgan 1 0.38x
Gloucestershire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sculcoates in Yorkshire leads with 17 Carnes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 72.53x.

Place Total Index
Sculcoates 17 72.53x
Brandon Byshottles 11 197.84x
Birmingham 7 5.58x
Churwell 7 693.07x
Elvet 7 218.75x
Lambeth 7 5.38x
Blackburn 6 12.74x
Chadderton 6 69.28x
Stretford 6 61.60x
Castle Northwich 5 458.72x
Liverpool 5 4.65x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 57.67x
Elton 4 65.36x
Hatherton 4 2500.00x
Taunton St Mary 4 90.70x
Glasgow 3 3.50x
Haughton 3 116.28x
St George Hanover Square 3 11.41x
Boston 2 27.62x
Hampstead London 2 8.61x
Manchester 2 2.51x
Ormskirk 2 59.00x
St Marylebone London 2 2.51x
Winnington 2 555.56x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 2 68.26x
Woodbury 2 217.39x
Accrington 1 6.21x
Ardwick 1 6.26x
Bishopwearmouth 1 2.62x
Brafferton Barmpton 1 714.29x
Cardiff St Mary 1 6.99x
Chelsea London 1 2.22x
Cockayne Hatley 1 2000.00x
Coxhoe 1 79.37x
Crossgate 1 51.55x
Durrisdeer 1 175.44x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 3.32x
Framwellgate 1 38.02x
Gloucester St Nicholas 1 73.53x
Heap 1 10.65x
Llanbeblig 1 16.34x
Macclesfield 1 6.83x
Paddington London 1 1.82x
Shotton 1 90.91x
St Giles 1 36.10x
Stillingfleet With 1 526.32x
Sturminster 1 105.26x
Thornton In Fylde 1 25.84x
Walcot 1 7.82x
Warrington 1 4.76x
Westminster St James 1 6.52x
Widnes 1 7.83x
Wigan 1 4.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Sarah 9
Elizabeth 6
Ann 4
Margaret 4
Emma 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Barbara 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Hannah 2
Helen 2
Isabella 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
(Mrs) 1
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Eleanor 1
Elzabeth 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Georgina 1
Harriet 1
Lily 1
Louise 1
Maggey 1
Maria 1
Melinda 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Serreas 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
Charles 5
James 5
John 5
Thomas 5
George 3
Joseph 3
Michael 3
Geo. 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Anthony 1
Archibald 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Chas.W. 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Jas. 1
Lawnson 1
Lewis 1
Luke 1
Mason 1
Patrick 1
R. 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Thos.E. 1

FAQ

Carnes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carnes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 153 people were recorded with the Carnes surname. That placed it at #15,320 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carnes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016. That gives Carnes a modern rank of #29,762.

What does the Carnes surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a meat seller, derived from the Old French word "carn" meaning "flesh."

What does the Carnes map show?

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