NameCensus.

UK surname

Carte

An occupational surname referring to someone who transported goods by cart or wagon.

In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Carte surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 72, ranked #33,585, down from #28,137 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity and Walthamstow, Low Leyton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolsover, Doncaster and Charnwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carte is 195 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.6%.

1881 census count

39

Ranked #28,137

Modern count

72

2016, ranked #33,585

Peak year

1891

195 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 1998

Key insights

  • Carte had 39 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,137 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 72 in 2016, ranked #33,585.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 195 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Carte surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carte surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carte 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 77 #19,998
1861 historical 173 #13,553
1881 historical 39 #28,137
1891 historical 195 #15,211
1901 historical 110 #21,604
1911 historical 130 #19,504
1997 modern 105 #26,188
1998 modern 103 #27,141
1999 modern 91 #28,937
2000 modern 89 #29,173
2001 modern 85 #29,396
2002 modern 85 #29,867
2003 modern 78 #30,654
2004 modern 72 #31,488
2005 modern 67 #32,196
2006 modern 65 #32,743
2007 modern 67 #32,871
2008 modern 70 #32,856
2009 modern 66 #33,538
2010 modern 77 #32,927
2011 modern 72 #33,323
2012 modern 72 #33,502
2013 modern 74 #33,483
2014 modern 74 #33,531
2015 modern 75 #33,425
2016 modern 72 #33,585

Geography

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Where Cartes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity, Walthamstow, Low Leyton, St Pancras and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolsover, Doncaster, Charnwood and Tamworth. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Walthamstow, Low Leyton Essex
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolsover 003 Bolsover
2 Doncaster 005 Doncaster
3 Charnwood 010 Charnwood
4 Bolsover 002 Bolsover
5 Tamworth 006 Tamworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carte

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carte

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Carte surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Carte household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Carte is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Carte is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Carte 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 Carte is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Carte

The surname Carte originates from France, where it first emerged in the early 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "carte," meaning "map" or "chart." This name likely referred to an early cartographer or map-maker, suggesting that one of the first bearers of this surname may have been involved in this profession.

The Carte surname was particularly prevalent in the northern regions of France, such as Normandy and Brittany. It is believed that some of the earliest recorded instances of this name can be found in medieval French records and manuscripts from these areas.

One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was Guillaume Carte, a French cartographer born in Rouen, Normandy, around 1190. He is credited with creating some of the first detailed maps of the French territories during the early 13th century.

In England, the Carte surname can be traced back to the Norman Conquest of 1066, when many French settlers arrived and established themselves in various parts of the country. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, contains several references to individuals with the surname Carte or similar spellings, such as Cartier and Cartwright.

Another notable figure with this surname was Jean Carte, a French explorer and navigator born in Dieppe, Normandy, in 1525. He is renowned for his voyages to the Americas, where he mapped and charted several coastal regions, including parts of modern-day Canada and the Caribbean islands.

In the 17th century, Sir Thomas Carte (1686-1754), an English historian and writer, gained prominence for his works on the English Civil War and the life of James Duke of Ormond. He was born in Warwickshire and is considered one of the most significant chroniclers of this turbulent period in English history.

During the 18th century, Samuel Carte (1708-1774), an English clergyman and antiquarian, made significant contributions to the study of Irish history and antiquities. He was born in Coventry and is best known for his work "The Life of James Duke of Ormond," which was completed by his father, Thomas Carte.

In the 19th century, Richard D'Oyly Carte (1844-1901), an English impresario and theatrical manager, played a pivotal role in the promotion and production of the famous Gilbert and Sullivan operas. He was born in London and is credited with establishing the Savoy Theatre, which became a renowned venue for these popular operettas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carte families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carte 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. Yorkshire leads with 8 Cartes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.07x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 8 2.07x
Hampshire 7 8.76x
Lancashire 5 1.08x
Kent 4 3.01x
Staffordshire 3 2.28x
Warwickshire 3 3.05x
Derbyshire 2 3.28x
Essex 1 1.30x
Glamorgan 1 1.47x
Leicestershire 1 2.31x
Lincolnshire 1 1.60x
Middlesex 1 0.26x
Royal Navy 1 21.51x
Shropshire 1 2.97x
Surrey 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 7 Cartes recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.27x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 7 75.27x
Portsea 5 31.91x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 108.70x
Burton Upon Trent 3 97.40x
Folkestone 3 116.28x
Wilnecote 3 1071.43x
Alvaston 1 588.24x
Charlton 1 113.64x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 12.72x
Havant 1 250.00x
Lambeth 1 2.94x
Lee Brockhurst 1 10000.00x
Liverpool 1 3.56x
Manningtree 1 769.23x
Portsmouth 1 54.35x
Royal Navy 1 25.19x
Seals 1 666.67x
St George Hanover Square 1 14.56x
St Martin Lincoln 1 172.41x
Ticknall 1 769.23x
Ystradyfodwg 1 16.78x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 4
Edward 3
Henry 2
Albert 1
Charles 1
George 1
H.C. 1
Harry 1
James 1
John 1
Ralph 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
T. 1
Thomas 1
Walter 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 Carte households.

FAQ

Carte surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carte surname in 1881?

In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Carte surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carte surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 72 in 2016. That gives Carte a modern rank of #33,585.

What does the Carte surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who transported goods by cart or wagon.

What does the Carte map show?

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