UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place named Carnes or Cairns.
In the 1881 census there were 104 people recorded with the Carns surname, ranking it #19,296 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24, ranked #36,392, down from #19,296 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Liverpool, Preston and Bishop Wearmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carns is 283 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 76.9%.
1881 census count
104
Ranked #19,296
Modern count
24
2016, ranked #36,392
Peak year
1861
283 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Carns surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Carns 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 | 165 | #12,053 |
| 1861 | historical | 283 | #8,866 |
| 1881 | historical | 104 | #19,296 |
| 1891 | historical | 152 | #18,163 |
| 1901 | historical | 144 | #18,505 |
| 1911 | historical | 70 | #25,853 |
| 1997 | modern | 29 | #34,795 |
| 1998 | modern | 27 | #35,148 |
| 1999 | modern | 26 | #35,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 22 | #35,531 |
| 2002 | modern | 21 | #35,798 |
| 2003 | modern | 18 | #36,115 |
| 2004 | modern | 18 | #36,245 |
| 2005 | modern | 19 | #36,247 |
| 2006 | modern | 20 | #36,254 |
| 2007 | modern | 20 | #36,362 |
| 2008 | modern | 24 | #36,148 |
| 2009 | modern | 27 | #36,045 |
| 2010 | modern | 28 | #36,084 |
| 2011 | modern | 23 | #36,369 |
| 2012 | modern | 21 | #36,490 |
| 2013 | modern | 24 | #36,344 |
| 2014 | modern | 26 | #36,244 |
| 2015 | modern | 26 | #36,228 |
| 2016 | modern | 24 | #36,392 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Liverpool, Preston, Bishop Wearmouth, Blackburn and Stockport. 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 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 2 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 3 | Bishop Wearmouth | Durham |
| 4 | Blackburn | Lancashire |
| 5 | Stockport | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Carns 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 Carns, 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 Carns surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Carns 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, Carns 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 Carns is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Carns, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname CARNS is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is thought to derive from the Old English word "carn," meaning a rocky hill or cairn. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or was associated with a prominent rocky outcrop or cairn.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Carn" and "Carne." This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the late 11th century.
Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, including Carns, Cairns, Cairnes, and Kearns. These different spellings likely arose due to regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions.
In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Carns holding lands in Yorkshire. This indicates that the CARNS surname had already acquired a locational association by this time.
During the 16th century, the name appeared in various historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire and the Hearth Tax Rolls of Lancashire. Notable individuals from this period include John Carns (1520-1587), a merchant and landowner from Yorkshire.
In the 17th century, the CARNS surname spread to other parts of England and Scotland. One notable figure from this era was William Carns (1635-1701), a Presbyterian minister who was involved in the Monmouth Rebellion against King James II.
In the 18th century, the CARNS name continued to be found in various records, such as parish registers and census records. Prominent individuals included Samuel Carns (1720-1788), a successful businessman and landowner from Lancashire.
The 19th century saw the CARNS surname spread further afield, with many bearers of the name emigrating to North America, Australia, and other parts of the British Empire. One notable figure from this period was John Carns (1810-1879), a Scottish-born engineer who worked on the construction of several railroads in Canada.
Throughout its history, the CARNS surname has been associated with various place names, such as Carns Hill in Yorkshire, Cairns in Scotland, and Cairnsmore in Ireland. Additionally, several individuals with the name CARNS have achieved prominence in various fields, including politics, business, and the arts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carns 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. Lancashire leads with 33 Carns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.72x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 33 | 2.72x |
| Durham | 20 | 6.56x |
| Yorkshire | 14 | 1.38x |
| Cheshire | 13 | 5.75x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 0.59x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 1.72x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.95x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.60x |
| Renfrewshire | 2 | 2.52x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 1.30x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.13x |
| Dumfriesshire | 1 | 4.42x |
| Fife | 1 | 1.65x |
| Isle of Man | 1 | 5.26x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.29x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.61x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 8.19x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.20x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.58x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.75x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dukinfield in Cheshire leads with 12 Carns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 114.83x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dukinfield | 12 | 114.83x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 10 | 38.23x |
| Liverpool | 8 | 10.84x |
| Blackburn | 6 | 18.55x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 6 | 45.45x |
| Nesfield Cum Langbar | 6 | 10000.00x |
| Openshaw | 5 | 87.87x |
| Didsbury | 4 | 248.45x |
| Oldham | 4 | 10.20x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 3 | 11.30x |
| Darlington | 3 | 25.51x |
| Wakefield | 3 | 38.51x |
| Holdenhurst | 2 | 36.30x |
| Illogan | 2 | 65.15x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.01x |
| Port Glasgow | 2 | 52.08x |
| Preston | 2 | 6.15x |
| Blantyre | 1 | 28.99x |
| Bradwall | 1 | 434.78x |
| Broadwater | 1 | 25.25x |
| Ceres | 1 | 136.99x |
| Chiswick | 1 | 17.86x |
| Clee With Weelsby | 1 | 27.86x |
| Coxhoe | 1 | 116.28x |
| Dalton In Thirsk | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Govan | 1 | 1.22x |
| Gretna | 1 | 232.56x |
| Kilmarnock | 1 | 10.96x |
| Lezayre | 1 | 117.65x |
| Lye | 1 | 44.84x |
| Middlesbrough | 1 | 7.56x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 1 | 27.10x |
| Rotherhithe | 1 | 7.91x |
| Sculcoates | 1 | 6.22x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 2.25x |
| Skircoat | 1 | 25.00x |
| St Gilesin Fields London | 1 | 114.94x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.83x |
| Widnes | 1 | 11.40x |
| Wigton | 1 | 75.76x |
| York St Andrew | 1 | 1000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Carns 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 Carns 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 Carns households.
FAQ
In 1881, 104 people were recorded with the Carns surname. That placed it at #19,296 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 24 in 2016. That gives Carns a modern rank of #36,392.
A locational surname derived from a place named Carnes or Cairns.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Carns 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.