UK surname
A surname derived from the Old Irish word "carr" meaning cart or wagon, likely referring to a carter or wagon driver.
In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Carris surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24, ranked #36,392, down from #28,715 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Ealing, Chiswick and Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carris is 115 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.4%.
1881 census count
35
Ranked #28,715
Modern count
24
2016, ranked #36,392
Peak year
1891
115 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Carris surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Carris surname density by area, 1891 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 | 22 | #29,378 |
| 1861 | historical | 98 | #21,388 |
| 1881 | historical | 35 | #28,715 |
| 1891 | historical | 115 | #21,878 |
| 1901 | historical | 50 | #28,590 |
| 1911 | historical | 48 | #28,006 |
| 1997 | modern | 29 | #34,795 |
| 1998 | modern | 27 | #35,148 |
| 1999 | modern | 29 | #35,031 |
| 2000 | modern | 21 | #35,799 |
| 2001 | modern | 23 | #35,451 |
| 2002 | modern | 27 | #35,243 |
| 2003 | modern | 25 | #35,471 |
| 2004 | modern | 26 | #35,519 |
| 2005 | modern | 28 | #35,510 |
| 2006 | modern | 24 | #35,981 |
| 2007 | modern | 25 | #36,006 |
| 2008 | modern | 28 | #35,875 |
| 2009 | modern | 26 | #36,111 |
| 2010 | modern | 28 | #36,084 |
| 2011 | modern | 22 | #36,430 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 23 | #36,414 |
| 2014 | modern | 23 | #36,417 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 24 | #36,392 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Ealing, Chiswick, Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Manchester and Nuneaton. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Ealing, Chiswick | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire) | Huntingdonshire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Nuneaton | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Carris 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 Carris, 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 Carris surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Carris 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, Carris 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 Carris is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Carris, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Carris is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, possibly derived from an Old English or Anglo-Norman word meaning "a rocky ridge" or "a path along a ridge." It is thought to have been initially a topographic name given to someone who lived near a prominent ridge or hill.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Carris can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from the year 1275, where a Robert de Carres is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have originated in the West Midlands region of England.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, variations of the spelling were common, including Carres, Carras, and Carrys. These spelling variations were often influenced by local dialects and the literacy levels of the scribes recording the names.
In the late 15th century, the surname Carris appeared in various records associated with the village of Carrisbrooke on the Isle of Wight. This may indicate a connection between the surname and the place name, although the exact nature of this relationship is unclear.
Notable individuals bearing the surname Carris throughout history include:
1. Sir John Carris (c. 1470-1542), an English knight and landowner from Hertfordshire, known for his involvement in the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.
2. Elizabeth Carris (c. 1520-1587), an English poet and translator during the Elizabethan era, renowned for her translations of works by Ovid and Horace.
3. Thomas Carris (c. 1605-1672), a British explorer and navigator who accompanied Captain William Baffin on his voyages to the Arctic region in the early 17th century.
4. Mary Carris (1685-1763), an English diarist and landowner from Gloucestershire, whose journals provide valuable insights into the daily lives of the gentry during the 18th century.
5. William Carris (1745-1818), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and was present at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781.
While the surname Carris is not among the most common in England, it has persisted throughout the centuries and is still in use today, carrying with it a rich history and potential connections to various locations and notable individuals from the past.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carris 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. Lancashire leads with 13 Carris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.21x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 13 | 3.21x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 2.07x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 5.81x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 4.29x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 3.90x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.33x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.99x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.91x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.29x |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 | 9.23x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.87x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 9 Carris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.42x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester | 9 | 49.42x |
| Nuneaton | 5 | 500.00x |
| Hulme | 4 | 47.34x |
| Southampton All Sts | 3 | 250.00x |
| Halifax | 2 | 40.32x |
| Leeds | 2 | 10.48x |
| Batley | 1 | 31.15x |
| Earley | 1 | 232.56x |
| Etton | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 5.10x |
| Higher Bebington | 1 | 208.33x |
| Pembroke St Mary | 1 | 71.43x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 5.49x |
| Stockton On Tees | 1 | 20.45x |
| Wednesfield | 1 | 58.82x |
| York St Cuthbert | 1 | 322.58x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Carris surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Carris 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 Carris households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Factory Operative | 2 |
| Clerk Biscuit Factory | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Drapers Asst | 1 |
| Engineer Worsted Factory | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Kitchenmaid Dom Ser | 1 |
| Lodging House Kpr | 1 |
| Machinist (Und) | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Plumber | 1 |
| Printer (Compositor) | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher (School) | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Sea Capts Wife | 1 |
| Silk Winder | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Teacher (8 M) | 1 |
| Timber M Servant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Carris surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 24 in 2016. That gives Carris a modern rank of #36,392.
A surname derived from the Old Irish word "carr" meaning cart or wagon, likely referring to a carter or wagon driver.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Carris 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.