UK surname
An occupational surname referring to someone who makes or sells carpets or rugs.
In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Carper surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #33,498 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Duffield, Bishops Cannings and St Leonard Bromley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carper is 230 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 333.3%.
1881 census count
3
Ranked #33,498
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1861
230 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Carper surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Carper surname density by area, 1861 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 | 27 | #28,467 |
| 1861 | historical | 230 | #10,611 |
| 1881 | historical | 3 | #33,498 |
| 1891 | historical | 78 | #27,035 |
| 1911 | historical | 21 | #31,179 |
| 1997 | modern | 35 | #34,174 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 13 | #36,693 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 14 | #36,801 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 13 | #37,056 |
| 2009 | modern | 16 | #36,850 |
| 2010 | modern | 18 | #36,774 |
| 2011 | modern | 17 | #36,839 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 12 | #37,342 |
| 2014 | modern | 16 | #36,974 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Duffield, Bishops Cannings, St Leonard Bromley, St George the Martyr and Halstead. 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 | Duffield | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Bishops Cannings | Wiltshire |
| 3 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | St George the Martyr | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Halstead | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Carper 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 Carper, 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 Carper surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Carper 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, Carper 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 Carper is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Carper, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Carper has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "creopere," which referred to a person who crawled or crept, possibly a reference to their occupation or physical stature.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are records of individuals with the surname Carper or similar spellings such as Creper and Crepor. These early spellings reflect the variations in pronunciation and spelling that were common during that time period.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Carper was Robert le Creper, who lived in Derbyshire, England, in the 13th century. Another notable bearer of the name was John Carper, a merchant from London who was mentioned in records from the 14th century.
The surname Carper has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Carperby in North Yorkshire, which may have influenced the development of the surname in certain regions.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Carper. One example is Sir William Carper (1566-1638), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was John Carper (1725-1801), a British soldier who served in the American Revolutionary War.
In the literary world, the poet and playwright Thomas Carper (1590-1662) is remembered for his contributions to the English Renaissance. Additionally, the architect and designer William Carper (1702-1780) left his mark on various buildings and monuments in London.
It is worth noting that the surname Carper has also been found in other parts of Europe, such as Germany and the Netherlands, where it may have originated independently or been influenced by migration patterns.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carper 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. Hampshire leads with 2 Carpers recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.39x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hampshire | 2 | 33.39x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 26.18x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Millbrook in Hampshire leads with 2 Carpers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1333.33x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Carper surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Ellen | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Carper 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 Carper households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Timber Merchant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Carper surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Carper a modern rank of #37,278.
An occupational surname referring to someone who makes or sells carpets or rugs.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Carper 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.