NameCensus.

UK surname

Cartmell

A locative surname indicating someone from Cartmell, a place in Cumbria, England.

In the 1881 census there were 600 people recorded with the Cartmell surname, ranking it #5,832 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,247, ranked #4,787, up from #5,832 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Poulton, Lytham and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fylde, Burnley and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cartmell is 1,324 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 107.8%.

1881 census count

600

Ranked #5,832

Modern count

1,247

2016, ranked #4,787

Peak year

2010

1,324 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cartmell had 600 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,832 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,247 in 2016, ranked #4,787.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,118 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Cartmell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cartmell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cartmell 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 306 #7,524
1861 historical 261 #9,481
1881 historical 600 #5,832
1891 historical 852 #4,801
1901 historical 1,118 #4,329
1911 historical 1,093 #4,244
1997 modern 1,229 #4,621
1998 modern 1,285 #4,623
1999 modern 1,310 #4,570
2000 modern 1,292 #4,604
2001 modern 1,285 #4,529
2002 modern 1,307 #4,551
2003 modern 1,268 #4,578
2004 modern 1,269 #4,583
2005 modern 1,254 #4,589
2006 modern 1,248 #4,616
2007 modern 1,263 #4,599
2008 modern 1,259 #4,644
2009 modern 1,291 #4,635
2010 modern 1,324 #4,621
2011 modern 1,278 #4,715
2012 modern 1,227 #4,824
2013 modern 1,260 #4,790
2014 modern 1,266 #4,797
2015 modern 1,240 #4,834
2016 modern 1,247 #4,787

Geography

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Where Cartmells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Poulton, Lytham, Preston, Bispham and Crosthwaite. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fylde, Burnley and Copeland. 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 Poulton Lancashire
2 Lytham Lancashire
3 Preston Lancashire
4 Bispham Lancashire
5 Crosthwaite Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fylde 008 Fylde
2 Burnley 011 Burnley
3 Fylde 002 Fylde
4 Copeland 003 Copeland
5 Copeland 005 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cartmell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cartmell

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Cartmell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cartmell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Cartmell is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cartmell is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cartmell falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cartmell

The surname Cartmell originated in the northwest of England, specifically in the historic county of Cumberland (now part of Cumbria). It is believed to have derived from the Old Norse words "kart" meaning cart or chariot, and "mel" or "melr" meaning a sandbank or sandy hill. This suggests that the name may have referred to a sandy hill or raised ground where carts or carriages were kept or maintained.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the late 12th century. The Cartmell family is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire in 1194, and the name is also found in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire from 1219. The name is thought to have originated from the village of Cartmel, located in the Cartmel Peninsula of Cumbria, which was once part of the ancient territory of Lancashire.

Historical records show that the Cartmells were a prominent family in the region. In the 13th century, a John de Cartmell is recorded as holding lands in the Furness area of Lancashire. The Cartmell family was also closely associated with the Priory of Cartmel, a wealthy Augustinian monastery founded in the 12th century, which held significant landholdings in the area.

One notable figure from the Cartmell family was Thomas Cartmell (c. 1537-1601), who served as the Bishop of Chester from 1598 until his death. Another prominent individual was Edmund Cartmell (1721-1808), an English architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Other individuals with the surname Cartmell include James Cartmell (1793-1868), an English businessman and philanthropist who established the Cartmell Almshouses in Kendal, Cumbria; and John Cartmell (1814-1887), an English landscape painter known for his depictions of the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales.

The surname Cartmell has also been associated with notable figures in more recent times, such as Mary Cartmell (1907-1995), an American actress and singer who appeared in several Broadway productions and films; and James Cartmell (born 1947), a British businessman and former chairman of the Football Association.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cartmell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cartmell 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 464 Cartmells recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.66x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 464 6.66x
Cumberland 59 11.67x
Leicestershire 12 1.84x
Durham 11 0.63x
Westmorland 10 7.75x
Staffordshire 9 0.45x
Monmouthshire 6 1.41x
Kent 5 0.25x
Middlesex 5 0.09x
Surrey 4 0.14x
Yorkshire 4 0.07x
Cheshire 3 0.23x
Hertfordshire 3 0.74x
Isle of Man 2 1.83x
Anglesey 1 0.96x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.27x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Perthshire 1 0.38x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lytham in Lancashire leads with 74 Cartmells recorded in 1881 and an index of 695.49x.

Place Total Index
Lytham 74 695.49x
Layton With Warbreck 55 215.10x
Thornton In Fylde 45 295.28x
Preston 44 23.60x
Westby With Plumpton 19 1759.26x
Whitehaven 18 66.79x
Clifton Cum Salwick 13 1547.62x
Garstang 13 828.03x
Keswick 12 185.76x
Little Bolton 12 13.39x
Parbold 11 1018.52x
Asfordby 10 925.93x
Forton 10 833.33x
Treales Roseacre 10 884.96x
Liverpool 9 2.13x
Wolstanton Knutton 9 74.38x
Aspull 8 48.81x
Blackburn 8 4.32x
Borrowdale 8 888.89x
Kirkham 8 86.86x
Thurnham 8 747.66x
West Derby 8 3.92x
Barnacre With Bonds 7 380.43x
Fulwood 7 92.96x
Hulme 7 4.81x
Marton 7 151.19x
Bispham With Norbreck 6 410.96x
Dalton In Furness 6 22.30x
Dilworth 6 140.52x
Freckleton 6 262.01x
Pemberton 6 21.60x
St Woollos 6 12.66x
Aighton Bailey 5 148.81x
Benfieldside 5 43.52x
Foots Cray 5 130.21x
Rickergate 5 46.73x
Accrington 4 6.31x
Camberwell 4 1.07x
Cockermouth 4 37.59x
Crosthwaite Lyth 4 258.06x
Egglescliffe 4 303.03x
Great Bolton 4 4.33x
Penrith 4 21.41x
Clayton Le Dale 3 508.47x
Gorton 3 4.58x
Greenhalgh With 3 394.74x
Kirkby Ireleth 3 86.21x
Natland 3 517.24x
Newton With Scales 3 555.56x
Oswaldtwistle 3 12.19x
Acton 2 5.81x
Briery Cottages 2 1052.63x
Carleton 2 263.16x
Garston 2 9.72x
German Peel 2 31.85x
Habergham Eaves 2 3.14x
Halifax 2 2.34x
Hunsworth 2 65.57x
Kendal 2 8.47x
Kirkdale 2 1.71x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.26x
Low Ireby 2 317.46x
Rickmansworth 2 17.95x
Tranmere 2 4.20x
Westminster St John 2 2.80x
Withnell 2 46.73x
Chorley 1 2.56x
Esh 1 7.87x
Hertford St Andrew 1 20.00x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 1 32.15x
Holyhead 1 5.15x
Medlar With Wesham 1 47.85x
Pendlebury 1 6.80x
Poulton Le Fylde 1 40.49x
Rockcliff 1 63.69x
Rugby 1 4.99x
Singleton 1 138.89x
Southampton All Sts 1 4.84x
St Andrewthe Great 1 20.79x
St Gilesin Fields London 1 20.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 35
Mary 34
Jane 25
Margaret 21
Ellen 18
Alice 15
Sarah 15
Ann 14
Annie 8
Agnes 7
Catherine 7
Emily 7
Edith 4
Isabella 4
Ada 3
Elizth. 3
Grace 3
Lizzie 3
Martha 3
Nancy 3
Rebecca 3
Susan 3
Eleanor 2
Eliza 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
May 2
Rose 2
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Drusilla 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Jemima 1
Johanna 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Maraget 1
Margary 1
Margery 1
Maria 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 56
William 39
James 28
Thomas 27
Robert 23
George 19
Richard 16
Henry 10
Joseph 10
Edward 7
Nicholas 6
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Wm. 3
Arthur 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Isaac 2
Josiah 2
Moses 2
Peter 2
Solomon 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Alban 1
Alexandre 1
Bede 1
Benjamin 1
Birkett 1
Burton 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Elias 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Greenip 1
Harvey 1
Herbert 1
Isiah 1
Jonathan 1
Josias 1
Levi 1
Nicolas 1
Oliver 1
Osborne 1
Rodger 1
Roger 1

FAQ

Cartmell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cartmell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 600 people were recorded with the Cartmell surname. That placed it at #5,832 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cartmell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,247 in 2016. That gives Cartmell a modern rank of #4,787.

What does the Cartmell surname mean?

A locative surname indicating someone from Cartmell, a place in Cumbria, England.

What does the Cartmell map show?

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