NameCensus.

UK surname

Caroll

A locational surname derived from Anglo-Norman and referring to someone from the town of Carrol in Normandy.

In the 1881 census there were 85 people recorded with the Caroll surname, ranking it #21,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 85, ranked #32,637, down from #21,573 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Cheshire East and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Caroll is 203 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.0%.

1881 census count

85

Ranked #21,573

Modern count

85

2016, ranked #32,637

Peak year

1861

203 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 1998

Key insights

  • Caroll had 85 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,573 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016, ranked #32,637.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 203 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Caroll surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Caroll surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Caroll 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 39 #26,319
1861 historical 203 #11,865
1881 historical 85 #21,573
1891 historical 133 #19,870
1901 historical 70 #26,383
1911 historical 111 #21,392
1997 modern 103 #26,498
1998 modern 104 #26,981
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 74 #30,785
2001 modern 69 #31,098
2002 modern 74 #31,048
2003 modern 69 #31,587
2004 modern 75 #31,233
2005 modern 71 #31,816
2006 modern 67 #32,532
2007 modern 71 #32,484
2008 modern 69 #32,962
2009 modern 80 #32,277
2010 modern 85 #32,185
2011 modern 78 #32,819
2012 modern 82 #32,701
2013 modern 90 #32,146
2014 modern 86 #32,663
2015 modern 84 #32,782
2016 modern 85 #32,637

Geography

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Where Carolls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Toxteth Park, Govan Combination and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Cheshire East, Kensington and Chelsea, Wigan and St. Helens. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 007 Westminster
2 Cheshire East 008 Cheshire East
3 Kensington and Chelsea 014 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Wigan 025 Wigan
5 St. Helens 014 St. Helens

Forenames

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First names often paired with Caroll

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Caroll

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Caroll, 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 Caroll surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Caroll 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Caroll is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Caroll 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

Caroll 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 Caroll is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Caroll

The surname Caroll originated in Ireland in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old Norse word 'karl' meaning a free man or a man of the people. The name likely arose from the Norman invasion of Ireland when many settlers from Normandy and other parts of France came to the country.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster which mention a 'Gilla Críst Ó Cairill' in 1201. This refers to a member of the Ó Cairill family who held lands in what is now County Leitrim. Variants of the spelling at the time included Caryll, Carrell, Carrol, and Caroll.

In the 14th century, the Caroll name was prominent in County Offaly where they were lords of the territory of Éile Uí Chearbhaill. This region took its name from the family and later became anglicized as Ely O'Carroll. Several members of this branch appear in the Annals of the Four Masters, such as Mulrony O'Carroll (died 1329) and William O'Carroll (died 1376).

One of the most renowned figures with the Caroll surname was Maolmhuire an Sparáin Ó Caroll (c.1615-1682), a renowned Irish language poet and member of the Éile Uí Chearbhaill sept. His works include religious verse as well as poems praising various lords and chieftains.

In England, a branch of the Carrolls held lands in Norfolk from the 13th century onwards. Members of this family included Sir William Carroll (c.1275-1343) who served as a knight in the wars against Scotland, and Sir John Carroll (1492-1552) who was part of the household of Henry VIII.

Other notable individuals with this surname were Charles Carroll (1737-1832), a wealthy Maryland planter who signed the United States Declaration of Independence, and Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), the English writer and mathematician best known for his works Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Caroll families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Caroll 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 22 Carolls recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.16x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 22 2.16x
Middlesex 16 1.86x
Yorkshire 14 1.65x
Angus 9 11.32x
Durham 6 2.35x
Staffordshire 5 1.73x
Channel Islands 3 11.80x
Stirlingshire 3 9.48x
Kent 2 0.68x
Argyllshire 1 4.19x
Cheshire 1 0.53x
Hampshire 1 0.57x
Lanarkshire 1 0.36x
Lincolnshire 1 0.73x
Midlothian 1 0.87x
Northumberland 1 0.78x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.86x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigan in Lancashire leads with 8 Carolls recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.22x.

Place Total Index
Wigan 8 56.22x
Bradford Girlington 7 1842.11x
Dundee 7 23.58x
St Clement Danes London 6 337.08x
St Marylebone London 6 13.09x
Toxteth Park 6 17.40x
Brightside Bierlow 5 29.98x
Liverpool 5 8.08x
Stone 4 107.82x
St Helier 3 36.23x
Strathblane 3 750.00x
Dartford 2 66.89x
Helmington Row 2 168.07x
Liff Benvie 2 16.57x
South Skirlaugh 2 2222.22x
Witton Le Wear 2 277.78x
Benfieldside 1 59.52x
Congleton 1 30.58x
Deeping St Nicholas 1 250.00x
Ealing 1 13.04x
Edinburgh New 1 112.36x
Everton 1 3.08x
Fulwood 1 90.91x
Habergham Eaves 1 10.74x
Hound 1 84.03x
Islington London 1 1.20x
Jesmond 1 55.56x
Kensington London 1 2.10x
Lismore Appin 1 125.00x
Nottingham St Mary 1 3.34x
Rutherglen 1 24.57x
Usworth 1 73.53x
Whitechapel London 1 11.82x
Wolstanton 1 11.36x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Top occupations

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 Caroll households.

FAQ

Caroll surname: questions and answers

How common was the Caroll surname in 1881?

In 1881, 85 people were recorded with the Caroll surname. That placed it at #21,573 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Caroll surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016. That gives Caroll a modern rank of #32,637.

What does the Caroll surname mean?

A locational surname derived from Anglo-Norman and referring to someone from the town of Carrol in Normandy.

What does the Caroll map show?

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