NameCensus.

UK surname

Carse

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a small waterfall or rivulet.

In the 1881 census there were 359 people recorded with the Carse surname, ranking it #8,614 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 432, ranked #11,135, down from #8,614 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Inveresk, Warkworth and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Armadale, County Durham and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carse is 439 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.3%.

1881 census count

359

Ranked #8,614

Modern count

432

2016, ranked #11,135

Peak year

2014

439 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carse had 359 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,614 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 432 in 2016, ranked #11,135.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 421 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Carse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carse surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carse 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 321 #7,237
1861 historical 308 #8,233
1881 historical 359 #8,614
1891 historical 421 #8,502
1901 historical 419 #9,191
1911 historical 210 #14,515
1997 modern 399 #11,028
1998 modern 411 #11,122
1999 modern 420 #11,035
2000 modern 420 #10,998
2001 modern 413 #10,962
2002 modern 410 #11,226
2003 modern 400 #11,262
2004 modern 404 #11,199
2005 modern 394 #11,308
2006 modern 379 #11,688
2007 modern 395 #11,481
2008 modern 391 #11,675
2009 modern 412 #11,461
2010 modern 428 #11,352
2011 modern 423 #11,333
2012 modern 420 #11,278
2013 modern 424 #11,402
2014 modern 439 #11,132
2015 modern 439 #11,035
2016 modern 432 #11,135

Geography

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Where Carses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Inveresk, Warkworth, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Armadale, County Durham, Northumberland, South Cambridgeshire and West Pilton. 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 Inveresk Edinburgh
2 Warkworth Northumberland
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Armadale West Lothian
2 County Durham 038 County Durham
3 Northumberland 002 Northumberland
4 South Cambridgeshire 015 South Cambridgeshire
5 West Pilton City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carse

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Carse surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Carse 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 predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Carse is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Carse is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Carse falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Carse 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Carse

The surname Carse has its origins in the Scottish Lowlands, specifically in the region of East Lothian. It is derived from the Gaelic word 'cars' or 'carse', which means a fertile, low-lying area near a river or stream. The name likely emerged as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived in or near a carse region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Carse can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where Robert de Carse from Dumfriesshire is mentioned. This suggests that the name had already been established in Scotland by the late 13th century.

The Carse surname is closely associated with the town of Musselburgh in East Lothian, where a family bearing the name held significant landholdings and influence. One notable figure was John Carse, who served as the Provost of Musselburgh in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various Scottish records and documents. For instance, William Carse was a merchant and Burgess of Edinburgh in the 1630s. Another prominent individual was Alexander Carse, a minister who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1688.

The Carse surname has also been found in other parts of Scotland, including Aberdeenshire and Fife. One notable bearer was Robert Carse (1661-1723), a Scottish Episcopal clergyman who served as the Bishop of Fife from 1718 until his death.

Another significant figure was Sir John Carse (1789-1868), a Scottish soldier and colonial administrator. He served as the Governor of British Guiana (now Guyana) from 1842 to 1849 and played a crucial role in the development of the colony's infrastructure and economy.

Over the centuries, the Carse surname has undergone various spellings, including Carss, Cairse, and Kerse. These variations reflect the influence of regional dialects and the evolution of language over time. Despite these differences, the name's core meaning and connection to the fertile lowlands of Scotland remain consistent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carse 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. Midlothian leads with 93 Carses recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.82x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 93 19.82x
Northumberland 64 12.28x
Lanarkshire 42 3.71x
Renfrewshire 18 6.63x
Lancashire 15 0.36x
Ayrshire 14 5.34x
Angus 13 4.01x
Durham 13 1.25x
Cambridgeshire 9 4.06x
Fife 8 3.86x
Kirkcudbrightshire 8 15.78x
Middlesex 8 0.23x
East Lothian 7 15.09x
Wiltshire 7 2.26x
Argyllshire 6 6.16x
Hampshire 6 0.84x
West Lothian 5 9.48x
Yorkshire 5 0.14x
Surrey 4 0.23x
Inverness-shire 3 2.87x
Norfolk 3 0.56x
Perthshire 3 1.91x
Essex 2 0.29x
Kent 1 0.08x
Somerset 1 0.18x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 48 Carses recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.43x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 48 25.43x
South Leith 23 43.57x
Barony 17 5.93x
Liff Benvie 13 26.40x
Glasgow 12 5.97x
Govan 12 4.28x
Bothal Demesne 10 401.61x
North Leith 10 46.06x
Amble 9 379.75x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 9 326.09x
Jesmond 9 122.78x
St Andrewthe Less 9 35.52x
Paisley Low Church 8 93.13x
Terregles 8 1428.57x
Westgate 8 24.79x
Dunbar 7 107.69x
Durham Magdalen Place 7 23333.33x
Dysart 7 50.14x
Islington London 7 2.06x
Wilton 7 319.63x
Campbeltown 6 51.02x
Dalry 6 48.66x
Straiton 6 402.68x
Carriden 5 209.21x
Elswick 5 12.03x
Middle Greenock 5 67.48x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 5 72.99x
Portsea 5 3.55x
Broompark 4 5714.29x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 4 36.04x
Heaton 4 231.21x
Inveresk 4 31.50x
Mearns 4 84.21x
Bishopwearmouth 3 3.35x
Blairgowrie 3 48.23x
Bridlington 3 37.78x
Inverness 3 11.41x
Longframlington 3 600.00x
Walsoken 3 92.59x
Edinburgh St Marys 2 21.93x
Everton 2 1.51x
Lambeth 2 0.66x
Liberton 2 27.62x
Newington 2 1.55x
West Ham 2 1.31x
Alnwick 1 11.16x
Ayr 1 8.08x
Burntisland 1 17.24x
Cheetham 1 3.23x
Elvet 1 13.30x
Gilling East 1 344.83x
Holy Rood 1 68.97x
Kirkdale 1 1.43x
Lanark 1 10.98x
Lee 1 5.76x
Lee Ward 1 588.24x
Liverpool 1 0.40x
Longbenton 1 4.53x
Manchester 1 0.54x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 3.21x
Newminster Abbey 1 476.19x
Newton On Ayr 1 12.74x
Saddleworth 1 3.74x
Stannington 1 80.65x
Sunderland 1 5.43x
Tunstall 1 19.27x
Tynemouth 1 3.58x
West Bromwich 1 1.48x
West Greenock 1 2.05x
Weston Zoyland 1 125.00x
Willesden 1 3.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Elizabeth 5
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Catherine 3
Eleanor 3
Ellen 3
Hannah 3
Isabella 3
Margaret 3
Annie 2
Christiana 2
Hilda 2
Jane 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Allac 1
Caroline 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Infant 1
Jemima 1
Mabel 1
Margarat 1
Maria 1
Maude 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 11
William 10
John 9
Thomas 8
James 6
Robert 4
Adam 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Harry 2
Alexander 1
Arther 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Henry 1
Hugh 1
Joseph 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Carse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 359 people were recorded with the Carse surname. That placed it at #8,614 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 432 in 2016. That gives Carse a modern rank of #11,135.

What does the Carse surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a small waterfall or rivulet.

What does the Carse map show?

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