NameCensus.

UK surname

Carthew

A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Carthew in Cornwall, England.

In the 1881 census there were 303 people recorded with the Carthew surname, ranking it #9,654 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 432, ranked #11,135, down from #9,654 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary, St Teath and Illogan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Exeter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carthew is 451 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.6%.

1881 census count

303

Ranked #9,654

Modern count

432

2016, ranked #11,135

Peak year

2000

451 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carthew had 303 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,654 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 386 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Carthew surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carthew surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carthew 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 247 #8,868
1861 historical 236 #10,393
1881 historical 303 #9,654
1891 historical 310 #10,812
1901 historical 371 #9,997
1911 historical 386 #9,535
1997 modern 427 #10,476
1998 modern 438 #10,617
1999 modern 439 #10,673
2000 modern 451 #10,412
2001 modern 444 #10,348
2002 modern 449 #10,465
2003 modern 435 #10,571
2004 modern 435 #10,600
2005 modern 416 #10,855
2006 modern 409 #11,032
2007 modern 412 #11,116
2008 modern 415 #11,145
2009 modern 428 #11,112
2010 modern 431 #11,285
2011 modern 451 #10,766
2012 modern 424 #11,183
2013 modern 440 #11,031
2014 modern 437 #11,176
2015 modern 430 #11,226
2016 modern 432 #11,135

Geography

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Where Carthews are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary, St Teath, Illogan, Phillack and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Exeter. 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 Mary Pembrokeshire
2 St Teath Cornwall
3 Illogan Cornwall
4 Phillack Cornwall
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 014 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 015 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 011 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 019 Cornwall
5 Exeter 013 Exeter

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carthew

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carthew

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Carthew surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Carthew 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Carthew 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

Carthew is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Carthew falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Carthew 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 Carthew, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Carthew

The surname Carthew has its origin in Cornwall, England, and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Cornish words "kar" meaning "rock" and "tu" meaning "a house or dwelling," suggesting that the name may have been associated with someone who lived near or by a rocky dwelling or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Carthew can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Cornwall from the year 1195, where it appears as "Karthu." This spelling variation is indicative of the evolution of the name over time.

In the 13th century, the name Carthew was connected to the manor of Carthew in the parish of St. Ervan, Cornwall. This manor was held by a family bearing the same name, and it is likely that they adopted the name from the location they inhabited.

Notably, the Carthew family played a significant role in the history of Cornwall. In the 14th century, Sir John Carthew (c. 1330 - 1395) served as the Sheriff of Cornwall and was a prominent figure in the region.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, another notable member of the Carthew family, Colonel Thomas Carthew (c. 1610 - 1673), fought for the Royalist cause and was appointed as the Governor of St. Michael's Mount in Cornwall.

In the 18th century, the Reverend Ralph Carthew (1694 - 1778) was a respected clergyman and served as the Vicar of St. Ervan, the parish where the Carthew family had longstanding roots.

The name Carthew has also been associated with the hamlet of Carthew in the parish of St. Ervan, which was likely named after the family who resided there.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname Carthew include Sir Aubrey Carthew (1796 - 1879), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, and Thomas Carthew Reynolds (1781 - 1859), an English lawyer and writer.

While the surname Carthew is most commonly found in Cornwall and the surrounding areas, it has also spread to other parts of England and beyond due to migration and various historical events.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carthew families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carthew 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. Cornwall leads with 82 Carthews recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.88x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 82 23.88x
Devon 66 10.45x
Middlesex 39 1.29x
Surrey 16 1.08x
Kent 15 1.45x
Glamorgan 13 2.46x
Warwickshire 12 1.57x
Pembrokeshire 10 10.37x
Lancashire 9 0.25x
Channel Islands 8 8.90x
Suffolk 8 2.17x
Oxfordshire 7 3.74x
Lincolnshire 5 1.03x
Yorkshire 5 0.17x
Somerset 4 0.82x
Berkshire 3 1.32x
Durham 3 0.33x
Essex 3 0.50x
Gloucestershire 1 0.17x
Norfolk 1 0.21x
Staffordshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheriton Bishop in Devon leads with 16 Carthews recorded in 1881 and an index of 2580.65x.

Place Total Index
Cheriton Bishop 16 2580.65x
Phillack 15 338.60x
Battersea 12 10.75x
Crediton 10 167.22x
Pembroke St Mary 10 80.52x
St Teath 10 483.09x
Westminster St James 9 28.86x
Whitstone 9 2093.02x
Paddington London 8 7.17x
Chiswick 7 42.22x
Morwenstow 7 833.33x
Woodbridge 7 148.31x
Woolwich 7 18.31x
Aston 6 2.85x
Bridgerule West 6 2500.00x
Hammersmith London 6 8.03x
Redruth 6 61.73x
St Sampson 6 148.15x
Barrow In Furness 5 10.21x
Bicester Market End 5 145.35x
Birmingham 5 1.96x
Drewsteignton 5 595.24x
Exeter St Sidwell 5 34.58x
Illogan 5 55.01x
Spittlegate 5 74.52x
St Ive 5 227.27x
Bedminster 4 8.72x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 7.00x
Gillingham 4 18.74x
Ilfracombe 4 61.54x
Normanby In 4 49.75x
St John Near Swansea 4 61.26x
St Tudy 4 740.74x
Swansea St Thomas 4 75.33x
Tintagel 4 430.11x
Tormoham 4 14.97x
Advent 3 1304.35x
Camborne 3 21.20x
Clase 3 15.27x
Colchester St Botolph 3 58.94x
Moorsley 3 309.28x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 3 232.56x
Plumstead 3 8.70x
St Marylebone London 3 1.85x
St Pancras London 3 1.23x
Stratton 3 161.29x
Wallingford St Mary Le 3 232.56x
Cardiff St John 2 11.59x
Kingsteignton 2 113.64x
Lambeth 2 0.76x
Lansallos 2 270.27x
Rewe 2 689.66x
Richmond 2 9.66x
St Peter Port 2 12.03x
St Sepulchre London 2 45.05x
Bideford 1 14.79x
Bridford 1 222.22x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 1.79x
Burton Dassett 1 147.06x
Chatham 1 3.51x
East Dereham 1 16.98x
Exeter Alphington 1 86.21x
Exeter Heavitree 1 21.23x
Exeter St George The 1 142.86x
Exeter St Thomas The 1 15.53x
Holsworthy 1 56.18x
Liskeard 1 17.39x
Ludgvan 1 36.50x
Saltash 1 37.59x
Sheffield 1 1.04x
St Clement 1 27.93x
St Just In Penwith 1 15.02x
Stanningfield 1 357.14x
Stoke 1 39.06x
Stoke Lyne 1 172.41x
Stoke Newington London 1 4.23x
Swinfen Packington 1 238.10x
Totnes 1 27.10x
Week St Mary 1 185.19x
Woodstock 1 84.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 27
John 20
James 10
Thomas 10
George 9
Richard 7
Charles 5
Henry 4
Samuel 4
Edward 3
Oliver 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Edmond 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Josiah 2
Robert 2
Sydney 2
Benjn. 1
Bob 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo.Ed. 1
Geo.W. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Martyn 1
Orland 1
Thos.Walter 1
Ths.J. 1
Westley 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Carthew surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carthew surname in 1881?

In 1881, 303 people were recorded with the Carthew surname. That placed it at #9,654 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carthew surname today?

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

What does the Carthew surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Carthew in Cornwall, England.

What does the Carthew map show?

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