NameCensus.

UK surname

Carron

A locational surname derived from various places in France or a Scottish river, likely referring to rocky land.

In the 1881 census there were 159 people recorded with the Carron surname, ranking it #14,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 325, ranked #13,930, up from #14,935 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Edinburgh and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Croydon and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carron is 335 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 104.4%.

1881 census count

159

Ranked #14,935

Modern count

325

2016, ranked #13,930

Peak year

2010

335 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carron had 159 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,935 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 325 in 2016, ranked #13,930.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 253 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Carron surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carron surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carron 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 184 #11,120
1861 historical 251 #9,830
1881 historical 159 #14,935
1891 historical 253 #12,645
1901 historical 251 #13,102
1911 historical 200 #14,960
1997 modern 295 #13,680
1998 modern 298 #13,937
1999 modern 298 #14,026
2000 modern 288 #14,312
2001 modern 274 #14,576
2002 modern 291 #14,275
2003 modern 295 #13,964
2004 modern 282 #14,451
2005 modern 279 #14,480
2006 modern 283 #14,432
2007 modern 297 #14,135
2008 modern 297 #14,230
2009 modern 297 #14,519
2010 modern 335 #13,645
2011 modern 296 #14,729
2012 modern 295 #14,670
2013 modern 310 #14,403
2014 modern 320 #14,181
2015 modern 320 #14,090
2016 modern 325 #13,930

Geography

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Where Carrons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Edinburgh, St Werburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Croydon, Hammersmith and Fulham, Brighton and Hove and Medway. 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 St Bees Cumberland
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 St Werburgh Derbyshire
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 032 Northumberland
2 Croydon 029 Croydon
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 011 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Brighton and Hove 030 Brighton and Hove
5 Medway 035 Medway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carron

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carron

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Carron surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Carron household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Carron is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Carron 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

Carron 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 Carron 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Carron

The surname Carron has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "carragh," meaning "rocky ground" or "rocky place." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who resided in or near areas with rocky terrain.

One of the earliest known references to the Carron surname can be found in the records of the Scots Peerage, which mentions a John Carron who lived in the late 16th century. Additionally, the name appears in various Scottish parish records from the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly in the regions of Stirlingshire and Lanarkshire, indicating its prevalence in those areas.

The Carron name is closely linked to the Carron Company, a renowned ironworks established in 1759 near the village of Carron, located in Falkirk, Scotland. The company played a significant role in the Industrial Revolution and was known for its production of high-quality cannons and other iron products. Notable figures associated with the Carron Company include Samuel Garbett (1717-1803), a prominent industrialist and one of the founders of the ironworks.

Another notable individual bearing the Carron surname was Robert Carron (1743-1793), a Scottish merchant and banker who served as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1786 to 1788. His involvement in the banking sector and his civic duties in Edinburgh contributed to the recognition of the Carron name in Scotland's history.

In the literary world, William Carron (1821-1876) gained recognition as a Scottish poet and writer. He authored several works, including "Lays and Lyrics" and "Poems and Lyrics," which showcased his poetic talent and further solidified the Carron name in Scottish cultural heritage.

Lastly, the Carron surname also found its way into military history with Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Carron (1789-1865), a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became the Governor of Jamaica from 1851 to 1857.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds associated with the Carron surname, spanning various fields and time periods, and solidifying its Scottish origins and significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carron families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carron 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. Lanarkshire leads with 28 Carrons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.58x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 28 5.58x
Lancashire 23 1.25x
Middlesex 19 1.23x
Durham 13 2.82x
Cheshire 11 3.21x
Cumberland 7 5.24x
Glamorgan 7 2.59x
Essex 6 1.96x
Fife 6 6.54x
Angus 5 3.48x
Derbyshire 5 2.06x
Kent 5 0.94x
Suffolk 4 2.12x
Dunbartonshire 3 7.20x
Yorkshire 3 0.20x
Isle of Man 2 6.94x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.96x
Warwickshire 2 0.51x
Ayrshire 1 0.86x
Devon 1 0.31x
Dumfriesshire 1 2.92x
Inverness-shire 1 2.16x
Pembrokeshire 1 2.03x
Renfrewshire 1 0.83x
Surrey 1 0.13x
Sussex 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 11 Carrons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.67x.

Place Total Index
Barony 11 8.67x
St Pancras London 10 8.01x
Liverpool 9 8.05x
Hulme 7 18.22x
Whitehaven 7 98.31x
Cardiff St Mary 6 40.32x
Glasgow 6 6.74x
Kinghorn 6 307.69x
Byers Green 5 384.62x
Holmside 5 438.60x
Litchurch 5 51.18x
Monks Coppenhall 5 38.70x
Deptford St Paul 4 9.80x
Govan 4 3.22x
Lesmahagow 4 75.47x
Leyton Low 4 64.31x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 4 131.15x
Cambuslang 3 59.29x
Cumbernauld 3 131.58x
Liff Benvie 3 13.76x
Birmingham 2 1.53x
Horton In Bradford 2 8.33x
Kensington London 2 2.32x
Nottingham St Mary 2 3.70x
Onchan 2 24.10x
Poplar London 2 6.83x
St Marylebone London 2 2.42x
Westminster St Margaret 2 26.74x
Annan 1 34.01x
Beckenham 1 14.45x
Blackburn 1 2.04x
Bradford 1 2.69x
Bungay St Mary 1 106.38x
Bury 1 4.76x
Cardiff St John 1 11.34x
Colchester St Giles 1 33.00x
Conside Knitsley 1 27.86x
Devonport 1 26.95x
Dundee 1 1.86x
Eastbourne 1 8.31x
Eye 1 81.97x
Greenock Oldor West 1 303.03x
Hornsey 1 5.10x
Kelsale 1 192.31x
Kilmorack 1 71.43x
Leyton 1 18.98x
Little Bolton 1 4.23x
Lower Bebington 1 49.26x
Lowestoft 1 11.21x
Pembroke St Mary 1 15.75x
Radcliffe 1 11.27x
Riccarton Hurlford 1 49.02x
Runcorn 1 12.67x
Shildon 1 26.95x
Strathmartine 1 156.25x
Stretford 1 9.87x
Sunderland 1 12.27x
West Derby 1 1.86x
Widnes 1 7.54x
Windlesham 1 70.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Catherine 4
Ellen 4
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Rose 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Bridget 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Eliz 1
Emma 1
Frances 1
Honora 1
Johanna 1
Katy 1
Laura 1
M.A.M. 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
My. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
William 8
James 5
Francis 3
Michael 3
Charles 2
Hugh 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
... 1
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Buton 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Fredric 1
George 1
Grantham 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Julius 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Simon 1
Thos. 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Carron surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carron surname in 1881?

In 1881, 159 people were recorded with the Carron surname. That placed it at #14,935 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carron surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 325 in 2016. That gives Carron a modern rank of #13,930.

What does the Carron surname mean?

A locational surname derived from various places in France or a Scottish river, likely referring to rocky land.

What does the Carron map show?

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