NameCensus.

UK surname

Carrey

A French surname derived from the word "carrière" meaning a quarry or quarryman.

In the 1881 census there were 112 people recorded with the Carrey surname, ranking it #18,501 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 110, ranked #29,225, down from #18,501 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Glamis, Inveresk and Monkwearmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall, Luton and Linwood South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carrey is 254 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.8%.

1881 census count

112

Ranked #18,501

Modern count

110

2016, ranked #29,225

Peak year

1861

254 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carrey had 112 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,501 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016, ranked #29,225.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 254 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Carrey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carrey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carrey 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 119 #15,247
1861 historical 254 #9,741
1881 historical 112 #18,501
1891 historical 148 #18,506
1901 historical 69 #26,499
1911 historical 110 #21,519
1997 modern 89 #28,490
1998 modern 87 #29,240
1999 modern 83 #29,823
2000 modern 79 #30,249
2001 modern 81 #29,828
2002 modern 80 #30,387
2003 modern 78 #30,654
2004 modern 83 #30,352
2005 modern 86 #30,094
2006 modern 90 #29,893
2007 modern 95 #29,493
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 104 #28,982
2010 modern 101 #30,078
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 107 #29,017
2013 modern 111 #28,856
2014 modern 113 #28,779
2015 modern 112 #28,809
2016 modern 110 #29,225

Geography

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Where Carreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Glamis, Inveresk, Monkwearmouth, St Pancras 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 Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall, Luton, Linwood South, Milton Keynes and Hart. 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 Glamis Forfar
2 Inveresk Edinburgh
3 Monkwearmouth Durham
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall East Renfrewshire
2 Luton 003 Luton
3 Linwood South Renfrewshire
4 Milton Keynes 032 Milton Keynes
5 Hart 003 Hart

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carrey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carrey

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Carrey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Carrey 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Carrey is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Carrey is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Carrey 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 Carrey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Carrey

The surname Carrey originates from France and is believed to have derived from the Old French word "quarré," meaning "quarry" or "stone pit." The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 11th or 12th century, as a occupational surname for someone who worked in a quarry or lived near one.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Quarrier." This reference suggests that the name was already in use in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, the name was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, where it was recorded as "de Quarraria" in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. This latinized form further reinforces the connection to the word "quarry."

As time passed, the surname underwent various spelling variations, including Quarry, Quarrie, Quarrey, and eventually Carrey. These changes likely occurred due to regional dialect differences and the evolution of language over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Carrey include:

1. Sir John Carrey (c. 1520 - 1598), an English politician and landowner from Devon. 2. Benjamin Carrey (1756 - 1835), an American Baptist minister and educator who founded the first Baptist seminary in the United States. 3. James Carrey (born 1962), the acclaimed Canadian-American actor known for his comedic roles in films such as "Dumb and Dumber," "The Mask," and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." 4. Molly Carrey (1907 - 1987), an American artist and illustrator known for her children's book illustrations and commercial artwork. 5. William Carrey (1648 - 1720), an English navigator and explorer who surveyed the coasts of Australia and New Zealand in the late 17th century.

The surname Carrey has a rich history spanning centuries, originating from the French word for "quarry" and evolving through various spellings and regional variations. It has been borne by notable individuals in various fields, including politics, religion, art, and entertainment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carrey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carrey 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 18 Carreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.68x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 18 1.68x
Angus 12 12.07x
Renfrewshire 11 13.23x
Lancashire 10 0.79x
Durham 8 2.51x
Kent 8 2.19x
Monmouthshire 5 6.45x
Surrey 5 0.96x
Cheshire 4 1.69x
Lanarkshire 4 1.15x
Yorkshire 4 0.38x
Gloucestershire 3 1.43x
Sussex 3 1.66x
Worcestershire 3 2.14x
Berkshire 2 2.48x
Essex 2 0.94x
Northumberland 2 1.25x
Oxfordshire 2 3.02x
Hampshire 1 0.45x
Lincolnshire 1 0.58x
Royal Navy 1 7.82x
Somerset 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abbey in Renfrewshire leads with 9 Carreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 70.92x.

Place Total Index
Abbey 9 70.92x
Liff Benvie 8 53.02x
East Murton 7 1166.67x
Heston 7 196.63x
Brenchley 5 381.68x
Chester St Oswald 4 93.24x
Great Crosby 4 115.27x
Chiddingly 3 909.09x
Dudley 3 17.61x
Leeds 3 5.00x
St Pancras London 3 3.47x
Westminster St John 3 22.95x
Barony 2 2.28x
Bedwellty 2 14.60x
Burtonwood 2 425.53x
Cathcart 2 44.44x
Chelsea London 2 6.19x
Chirton 2 55.40x
Govan 2 2.33x
Llanthewy Rhytherch 2 1538.46x
Alverstoke 1 12.56x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 3.59x
Bishop Burton 1 588.24x
Bristol St Michael 1 55.56x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 5.05x
Clee With Weelsby 1 26.60x
Deptford St Nicholas 1 34.36x
Dundee 1 2.69x
Farleigh 1 3333.33x
Gillingham 1 13.25x
Glamis 1 166.67x
Greenstead 1 322.58x
Guildford Holy Trinity 1 100.00x
Hadleigh 1 588.24x
Hendon 1 25.91x
Houghton Le Spring 1 45.25x
Kilmersdon 1 117.65x
Lambourn 1 125.00x
Lancaster 1 13.19x
Manchester 1 1.75x
Monifieth 1 28.49x
Newington 1 2.52x
Orell Ford 1 434.78x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 1 126.58x
Oxford St Peter In East 1 400.00x
Paddington London 1 2.53x
Reigate Foreign 1 17.67x
Richmond 1 13.64x
Royal Navy 1 9.15x
St Vigeans 1 18.62x
St Woollos 1 11.55x
Sutton At Hone 1 131.58x
Tetbury 1 84.03x
Warfield 1 136.99x
Whitechapel London 1 9.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Margaret 4
Elizabeth 3
Ann 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Martha 2
(Mrs) 1
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
Sarah 1
Therza 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Carrey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carrey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 112 people were recorded with the Carrey surname. That placed it at #18,501 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carrey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016. That gives Carrey a modern rank of #29,225.

What does the Carrey surname mean?

A French surname derived from the word "carrière" meaning a quarry or quarryman.

What does the Carrey map show?

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