NameCensus.

UK surname

Carrera

A Spanish occupational surname referring to someone who transports goods, derives from the word "carrera" meaning "road" or "career."

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Carrera surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 116, ranked #28,197, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central, Erskine West and Exeter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carrera is 123 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11500.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

116

2016, ranked #28,197

Peak year

2013

123 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carrera had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016, ranked #28,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Carrera surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carrera surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carrera 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 2 #33,133
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 4 #34,098
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 46 #33,077
1998 modern 55 #32,399
1999 modern 61 #31,971
2000 modern 55 #32,609
2001 modern 56 #32,379
2002 modern 62 #32,214
2003 modern 64 #32,056
2004 modern 70 #31,681
2005 modern 69 #32,007
2006 modern 71 #32,147
2007 modern 68 #32,760
2008 modern 72 #32,656
2009 modern 80 #32,277
2010 modern 95 #31,000
2011 modern 96 #30,721
2012 modern 114 #27,868
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 118 #27,961
2015 modern 114 #28,478
2016 modern 116 #28,197

Geography

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Where Carreras are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central, Erskine West, Exeter, Guildford and Renfrewshire Rural North and Langbank. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central Inverclyde
2 Erskine West Renfrewshire
3 Exeter 010 Exeter
4 Guildford 012 Guildford
5 Renfrewshire Rural North and Langbank Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carrera

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carrera

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Carrera surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Carrera 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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, Carrera 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

Carrera 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

Carrera falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Carrera 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Carrera

The surname Carrera has its origins in Spain, where it first emerged during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish word "carrera," which means "race" or "career." The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for a person who was known for their speed or agility, perhaps in a profession or activity that involved racing or moving swiftly.

In the early 13th century, the name Carrera appeared in various Spanish records, such as the "Libro de las Behetrías" (Book of Beholdings), which documented land holdings and nobility in the Kingdom of Castile. One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was Pedro Carrera, a nobleman mentioned in a document dated 1235.

The surname Carrera also has connections to place names in Spain. For instance, the town of Carrera de Torrepadre in the province of Soria was historically associated with this surname, suggesting that some individuals may have adopted the name based on their place of origin or residence.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Carrera. One of the most famous was Rafael Carrera (1814-1865), a Guatemalan military officer and politician who served as the President of Guatemala from 1844 to 1848 and again from 1851 to 1865. Another prominent figure was Adolfo Carreras (1826-1889), a Spanish entrepreneur who founded the tobacco company Tabacalera, which later became part of the Altadis Group.

In the arts, the name Carrera is associated with individuals such as Manuel Carrera (1913-1988), a Mexican painter and sculptor known for his murals and public artworks, and Rafael Carrera Andrade (1903-1978), an Ecuadorian poet and diplomat who served as the Ecuadorian ambassador to several countries.

The name Carrera has also been present in the world of sports. One notable bearer was Juan Manuel Fangio (1911-1995), an Argentine racing driver who won five Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles, making him one of the most successful drivers in the history of the sport. Another sports figure was José Carrera (1921-2020), a Spanish footballer who played as a defender and spent most of his career with FC Barcelona.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Carrera throughout history, highlighting its Spanish origins and its connections to various fields and professions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carrera families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carrera 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. Middlesex leads with 1 Carreras recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 1 Carreras recorded in 1881 and an index of 196.08x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 1 196.08x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 1

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 Carrera households.

Occupation Count
Merchant 1

FAQ

Carrera surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carrera surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Carrera surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carrera surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016. That gives Carrera a modern rank of #28,197.

What does the Carrera surname mean?

A Spanish occupational surname referring to someone who transports goods, derives from the word "carrera" meaning "road" or "career."

What does the Carrera map show?

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