UK surname
A surname referring to a person from Carton or Carlton, localities in England.
In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Carten surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 36, ranked #35,648, down from #29,218 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Port Glasgow, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carten is 267 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.1%.
1881 census count
31
Ranked #29,218
Modern count
36
2016, ranked #35,648
Peak year
1861
267 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Carten surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Carten 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 | 103 | #16,835 |
| 1861 | historical | 267 | #9,290 |
| 1881 | historical | 31 | #29,218 |
| 1891 | historical | 172 | #16,663 |
| 1901 | historical | 40 | #29,678 |
| 1911 | historical | 24 | #30,800 |
| 1997 | modern | 27 | #35,016 |
| 1998 | modern | 28 | #35,053 |
| 1999 | modern | 32 | #34,717 |
| 2000 | modern | 29 | #34,976 |
| 2001 | modern | 31 | #34,648 |
| 2002 | modern | 34 | #34,634 |
| 2003 | modern | 35 | #34,609 |
| 2004 | modern | 31 | #35,105 |
| 2005 | modern | 31 | #35,260 |
| 2006 | modern | 34 | #35,255 |
| 2007 | modern | 35 | #35,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 36 | #35,397 |
| 2009 | modern | 40 | #35,274 |
| 2010 | modern | 44 | #35,183 |
| 2011 | modern | 43 | #35,228 |
| 2012 | modern | 44 | #35,164 |
| 2013 | modern | 42 | #35,325 |
| 2014 | modern | 41 | #35,396 |
| 2015 | modern | 41 | #35,383 |
| 2016 | modern | 36 | #35,648 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Port Glasgow, St Pancras, Manchester, St Marylebone and Liverpool. 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 | Port Glasgow | Renfrew |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Carten 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 Carten, 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 Carten surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Carten 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, Carten 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 Carten is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Carten, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Carten is of English origin, emerging in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "cartier," meaning a maker or seller of carts or wagons. This occupational surname indicates that the original bearer was likely involved in the trade of cart-making or wagon-selling.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex, dated 1195, where it appears as "Cartere." The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention a Richard le Cartere from Norfolk. These early records suggest that the name was well-established in various parts of England by the 13th century.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in the form of "Cartar" in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. This spelling variation highlights the fluid nature of surname spellings during that time. The Carten family can also be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where the name is recorded as "Cartan" in Yorkshire.
One notable figure bearing the Carten surname was John Carten (c. 1480-1537), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Herefordshire in the early 16th century. Another individual of historical significance was Sir William Carten (1611-1685), a British politician and judge who served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of King Charles II.
The name Carten has also been associated with several place names throughout England. For instance, Carten Downham in Suffolk and Carten Court in Hampshire are both derived from the surname, indicating the presence of families bearing this name in those regions.
Other notable individuals with the Carten surname include Thomas Carten (1572-1635), an English clergyman and author; Edward Carten (1638-1686), an English politician; and Henry Carten (1685-1748), a British military officer who served in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715.
Throughout its history, the Carten surname has maintained its connection to the occupation of cart-making and wagon-selling, reflecting the rich tapestry of trades and professions that contributed to the development of English surnames.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carten 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. Yorkshire leads with 9 Cartens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.00x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 9 | 3.00x |
| Surrey | 6 | 4.07x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 1.11x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.99x |
| Midlothian | 3 | 7.41x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 7.68x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 9.60x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.50x |
| Somerset | 1 | 2.05x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Saddleworth in Yorkshire leads with 9 Cartens recorded in 1881 and an index of 389.61x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Saddleworth | 9 | 389.61x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 6 | 98.68x |
| Edinburgh New | 3 | 967.74x |
| Formby | 2 | 487.80x |
| Furneux Pelham | 2 | 3333.33x |
| Islington London | 2 | 6.82x |
| Widnes | 2 | 77.22x |
| Crosscanonby | 1 | 116.28x |
| Dearham | 1 | 294.12x |
| Edmonton | 1 | 40.98x |
| Stockport | 1 | 29.15x |
| Wedmore | 1 | 312.50x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Carten 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 Carten 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 Carten households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Cap Maker | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Coachman (Domestic Servant) | 1 |
| Coal Picker | 1 |
| Cooper & Beerseller | 1 |
| Emery Cloth Maker | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Lawyer | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Visitor | 1 |
| Wool Reeler | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Carten surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 36 in 2016. That gives Carten a modern rank of #35,648.
A surname referring to a person from Carton or Carlton, localities in England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Carten 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.