NameCensus.

UK surname

Carthy

An Anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó Cárthaigh meaning "descendent of Carthach".

In the 1881 census there were 492 people recorded with the Carthy surname, ranking it #6,854 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 730, ranked #7,461, down from #6,854 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, St Mary Whitechapel and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cannock Chase, Sheffield and Lichfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carthy is 836 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.4%.

1881 census count

492

Ranked #6,854

Modern count

730

2016, ranked #7,461

Peak year

2010

836 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carthy had 492 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,854 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 730 in 2016, ranked #7,461.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 798 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Carthy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carthy surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carthy 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 562 #4,511
1861 historical 753 #3,632
1881 historical 492 #6,854
1891 historical 798 #5,045
1901 historical 535 #7,671
1911 historical 551 #7,274
1997 modern 712 #7,160
1998 modern 768 #6,981
1999 modern 759 #7,078
2000 modern 753 #7,078
2001 modern 727 #7,146
2002 modern 750 #7,108
2003 modern 735 #7,115
2004 modern 742 #7,088
2005 modern 713 #7,218
2006 modern 707 #7,296
2007 modern 701 #7,414
2008 modern 705 #7,439
2009 modern 743 #7,305
2010 modern 836 #6,779
2011 modern 774 #7,133
2012 modern 735 #7,344
2013 modern 749 #7,353
2014 modern 742 #7,448
2015 modern 721 #7,555
2016 modern 730 #7,461

Geography

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Where Carthys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes, St Giles-in-the-Fields and Merthyr Tydfil. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cannock Chase, Sheffield, Lichfield, Cheshire East and Plymouth. 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 George in the East London (East Districts)
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Giles-in-the-Fields London (Central Districts)
5 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cannock Chase 002 Cannock Chase
2 Sheffield 004 Sheffield
3 Lichfield 001 Lichfield
4 Cheshire East 032 Cheshire East
5 Plymouth 026 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carthy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carthy

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Carthy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Carthy 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 often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Carthy is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Carthy 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

Carthy 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 Carthy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Carthy

The surname CARTHY is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "O'Cearnachain". It is believed to have originated in County Kerry, Ireland, during the 11th century.

The name CARTHY is a variant of the more common spelling "McCarthy". It is thought to have evolved from the Irish name "Cearnachain", meaning "son of the descendant of Cearnachain". Cearnachain was derived from the Old Irish words "cear" (craftsman) and "nach" (descendant).

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name CARTHY can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history dating back to the 12th century. The annals mention a "Domhnall O'Cearnachain" in the year 1163.

In the 16th century, the CARTHY name was associated with the Barony of Muskerry in County Cork. The CARTHYs were part of the Gaelic aristocracy and held significant power and influence in the region.

A notable figure from history was Florence CARTHY, born around 1537, who was a leader of the Irish rebellion against English rule in the late 16th century. He fought alongside the Earl of Desmond in the Second Desmond Rebellion.

Another prominent individual was Nicholas CARTHY (1572-1624), a Roman Catholic priest and scholar who served as the Archbishop of Tuam in the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, Denis CARTHY (1725-1795) was a renowned Irish poet and songwriter from County Kerry. He is best known for his composition "Cath Chrionna" (The Battle of Crinnan).

In the 19th century, Justin CARTHY (1830-1912) was a notable Irish novelist, historian, and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies and was a prominent advocate for Irish Home Rule.

Another significant figure was Jeremiah CARTHY (1859-1926), an Irish-American baseball player who played for several major league teams, including the St. Louis Browns and the Chicago White Stockings, in the late 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carthy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carthy 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. Lancashire leads with 126 Carthys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.35x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 126 2.35x
Middlesex 82 1.82x
Staffordshire 67 4.39x
Surrey 28 1.27x
Monmouthshire 16 4.90x
Hampshire 15 1.62x
Durham 14 1.04x
Kent 14 0.91x
Cornwall 11 2.15x
Yorkshire 11 0.25x
Lanarkshire 10 0.68x
Cumberland 9 2.31x
Glamorgan 9 1.14x
Warwickshire 9 0.79x
Sussex 6 0.79x
Channel Islands 5 3.74x
Angus 4 0.96x
Devon 4 0.43x
Cheshire 3 0.30x
Oxfordshire 3 1.08x
Somerset 3 0.41x
Leicestershire 2 0.40x
Worcestershire 2 0.34x
Anglesey 1 1.25x
Brecknockshire 1 1.11x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.35x
Flintshire 1 0.82x
Gloucestershire 1 0.11x
Hertfordshire 1 0.32x
Lincolnshire 1 0.14x
Merionethshire 1 1.21x
Northamptonshire 1 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton Under Lyne in Lancashire leads with 23 Carthys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.64x.

Place Total Index
Ashton Under Lyne 23 19.64x
Armitage 17 854.27x
St George In East London 16 37.66x
Manchester 15 6.22x
Rugeley 13 118.83x
Wolverhampton 12 10.24x
Bromley London 10 10.06x
Camborne 10 47.46x
Everton 10 5.85x
Portsea 10 5.51x
Ratcliffe London 10 40.10x
St Woollos 10 27.44x
Birmingham 9 2.37x
Darlington 9 17.35x
Kirkdale 9 9.98x
Liverpool 9 2.77x
Maryhill 8 27.98x
Salford 8 5.08x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 8.80x
Wigan 8 10.68x
Arlecdon 7 67.70x
Bethnal Green London 7 3.57x
Burntwood Edial 7 71.87x
St Giles In Fields London 7 31.59x
Toxteth Park 7 3.86x
Brighton 6 3.91x
Walsall Foreign 6 7.62x
West Derby 6 3.83x
Wolstanton 6 12.96x
Bermondsey 5 3.72x
Blackburn 5 3.51x
Hopwood 5 71.33x
Newington 5 3.00x
St Anne 5 209.21x
Crompton 4 26.21x
Escomb 4 64.83x
Liff Benvie 4 6.30x
Llantwit Vairdre 4 45.25x
Maidstone 4 8.71x
Southwark St Saviour 4 17.23x
St George Hanover Square 4 5.03x
St Sepulchre London 4 60.51x
Westminster St James 4 8.62x
Abergavenny 3 24.53x
Chatham 3 7.08x
Dewsbury 3 6.54x
Hornton 3 389.61x
Lichfield St Chad 3 87.46x
Poplar London 3 3.52x
Prescot 3 30.96x
Spitalfields London 3 8.83x
St Peters 3 42.08x
Walcot 3 7.75x
Barrow In Furness 2 2.74x
Caerleon 2 117.65x
Droylsden 2 11.44x
Govan 2 0.55x
Hampton London 2 26.95x
Hoyland Nether 2 18.21x
Kings Norton 2 3.78x
Llandaff 2 7.65x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 2.65x
Much Woolton 2 27.51x
Oldham 2 1.16x
Ovenden 2 10.04x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 2.76x
Rotherhithe 2 3.58x
Southampton All Sts 2 12.59x
Spofforth 2 327.87x
St Andrew Holborn London 2 10.23x
Battersea 1 0.60x
Lambeth 1 0.25x
Leeds 1 0.40x
Llanelly 1 9.25x
Minster In Sheppey 1 3.92x
Painswick 1 15.97x
Ratcliffe Culey 1 285.71x
Southhampton St Mary Extra 1 100.00x
St Pancras London 1 0.28x
Talland 1 83.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 51
Elizabeth 13
Ellen 13
Catherine 12
Margaret 12
Ann 10
Sarah 9
Eliza 8
Annie 6
Julia 6
Bridget 5
Kate 5
Harriet 4
Maria 4
Alice 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Cathrine 2
Emma 2
Harriette 2
Jane 2
Johanna 2
Johanne 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Marry 2
Susan 2
Bessie 1
Catharine 1
Cathern 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Gertrude 1
Hanna 1
Hannah 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Honora 1
Jemima 1
Johannah 1
M. 1
MC 1
Margret 1
Maud 1
Norah 1
Rachael 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 43
William 23
James 22
Thomas 18
Charles 12
Patrick 11
George 10
Edward 9
Michael 6
Timothy 5
Daniel 4
Dennis 4
Jeremiah 4
Martin 4
Peter 4
Henry 3
Hugh 3
Joseph 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
David 2
Denis 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Bartholomew 1
Caroline 1
Christ. 1
Cormack 1
Cornelius 1
Edw. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Eugene 1
Florence 1
Frederick 1
Geremigh 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jeramiah 1
Jim 1
Jno. 1
Leslie 1
MC 1
Nicholas 1
Owen 1
Philip 1
Ralph 1
Stephen 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Carthy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carthy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 492 people were recorded with the Carthy surname. That placed it at #6,854 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carthy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 730 in 2016. That gives Carthy a modern rank of #7,461.

What does the Carthy surname mean?

An Anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó Cárthaigh meaning "descendent of Carthach".

What does the Carthy map show?

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