NameCensus.

UK surname

Carp

A surname derived from a topographic name describing someone who lived near a body of water containing carp fish.

In the 1881 census there were 116 people recorded with the Carp surname, ranking it #18,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 253, ranked #16,671, up from #18,126 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St George in the East and Puriton with Woollavington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, South Somerset and East Hampshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carp is 253 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 118.1%.

1881 census count

116

Ranked #18,126

Modern count

253

2016, ranked #16,671

Peak year

2016

253 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carp had 116 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,126 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 253 in 2016, ranked #16,671.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 226 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Carp surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carp surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carp 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 27 #28,467
1861 historical 226 #10,797
1881 historical 116 #18,126
1891 historical 148 #18,506
1901 historical 150 #18,075
1911 historical 179 #16,023
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 129 #23,722
1999 modern 136 #23,186
2000 modern 155 #21,341
2001 modern 140 #22,441
2002 modern 140 #22,876
2003 modern 137 #22,939
2004 modern 141 #22,689
2005 modern 151 #21,667
2006 modern 148 #22,111
2007 modern 160 #21,296
2008 modern 169 #20,745
2009 modern 170 #21,095
2010 modern 179 #20,886
2011 modern 188 #20,067
2012 modern 217 #18,184
2013 modern 231 #17,703
2014 modern 244 #17,189
2015 modern 246 #16,994
2016 modern 253 #16,671

Geography

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Where Carps are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St George in the East, Puriton with Woollavington, Shapwick (pt), Huntspill and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, South Somerset and East Hampshire. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
3 Puriton with Woollavington Somerset
4 Shapwick (pt), Huntspill Somerset
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 009 Taunton Deane
2 Taunton Deane 007 Taunton Deane
3 South Somerset 001 South Somerset
4 Taunton Deane 011 Taunton Deane
5 East Hampshire 017 East Hampshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carp

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carp

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Carp surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Carp household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Carp is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Carp 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

Carp falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Carp

The surname CARP is of Old English origin, deriving from the Anglo-Saxon word "cærp" which meant carp, the freshwater fish. It is believed to have originated as an occupational surname for someone who caught or sold carp, or perhaps lived near a body of water where carp were plentiful.

In its earliest recorded form, the name was spelled "Carpe" in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This entry refers to a landowner named Ricardus Carpe in Lincolnshire. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, CARP.

The surname CARP can also be traced back to various place names in England, such as Carp in Nottinghamshire and Carp River in Yorkshire. These locations likely took their names from the abundance of carp in nearby waterways, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and the fish.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname CARP was William Carp, born around 1265 in Nottinghamshire. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of Parliament during the reign of King Edward I.

Another notable figure bearing the surname CARP was Sir John Carp, who lived in the 15th century and was a renowned military commander during the Wars of the Roses. He fought alongside Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and was instrumental in several victories for the House of York.

In the 16th century, Thomas Carp (1505-1571) was a renowned English scholar and clergyman. He was appointed as the Regius Professor of Hebrew at the University of Cambridge in 1549 and made significant contributions to the study of biblical languages and texts.

During the English Civil War of the 17th century, Colonel Edward Carp (1610-1667) was a prominent Parliamentarian officer who served under Oliver Cromwell. He played a crucial role in several battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

Another notable figure with the surname CARP was Sir Robert Carp (1725-1799), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the American Revolutionary War. He commanded several ships and was recognized for his bravery and leadership in various engagements against the French and Spanish fleets.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carp families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carp 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. Somerset leads with 47 Carps recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.98x.

County Total Index
Somerset 47 27.98x
Cheshire 11 4.78x
Staffordshire 11 3.12x
Surrey 10 1.97x
Middlesex 9 0.86x
Glamorgan 8 4.40x
Yorkshire 4 0.39x
Warwickshire 3 1.14x
Gloucestershire 2 0.98x
Carmarthenshire 1 2.27x
Derbyshire 1 0.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Puriton in Somerset leads with 17 Carps recorded in 1881 and an index of 6296.30x.

Place Total Index
Puriton 17 6296.30x
Cheddleton 8 1081.08x
Burnham 7 546.88x
Bermondsey 6 19.31x
Llangeinor 5 467.29x
Lymm 5 299.40x
St George In East London 5 50.92x
Macclesfield 4 39.06x
Sculcoates 4 24.41x
Wellington 4 175.44x
Wincanton 4 465.12x
Bruton 3 454.55x
Cardiff St Mary 3 29.97x
Norton In Moors 3 161.29x
Pawlett 3 1578.95x
Bedminster 2 12.67x
Chertsey 2 60.79x
Lambeth 2 2.20x
St Giles In Fields London 2 39.06x
Weston Super Mare 2 47.17x
Birmingham 1 1.14x
Chester St Oswald 1 23.98x
Clifton 1 9.66x
Edington 1 625.00x
Fulham London 1 6.61x
Henbury 1 100.00x
Highbridge 1 3333.33x
Islington London 1 0.99x
Langport Eastover 1 416.67x
Llanelly 1 10.09x
Lower Bebington 1 72.99x
Milverton 1 129.87x
Nailsea 1 151.52x
Polesworth 1 80.00x
South Normanton 1 86.96x
West Quantoxhead 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Sarah 7
Jane 6
Elizabeth 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Emily 3
Sophia 3
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Ann 1
Charlotte 1
Eva 1
Fannie 1
Flora 1
Gwenllian 1
Johanna 1
Lilian 1
Louie 1
Theodore 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Carp surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carp surname in 1881?

In 1881, 116 people were recorded with the Carp surname. That placed it at #18,126 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carp surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 253 in 2016. That gives Carp a modern rank of #16,671.

What does the Carp surname mean?

A surname derived from a topographic name describing someone who lived near a body of water containing carp fish.

What does the Carp map show?

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