NameCensus.

UK surname

Carton

A surname derived from the French word "carton" meaning cardboard or thick paper.

In the 1881 census there were 167 people recorded with the Carton surname, ranking it #14,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 513, ranked #9,816, up from #14,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Bidstone and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Altonhill South, Longpark and Hillhead and Ceredigion.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carton is 906 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 207.2%.

1881 census count

167

Ranked #14,443

Modern count

513

2016, ranked #9,816

Peak year

1861

906 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carton had 167 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 513 in 2016, ranked #9,816.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 906 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Carton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carton 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 230 #9,368
1861 historical 906 #3,056
1881 historical 167 #14,443
1891 historical 387 #9,122
1901 historical 259 #12,848
1911 historical 258 #12,614
1997 modern 512 #9,153
1998 modern 529 #9,195
1999 modern 541 #9,092
2000 modern 525 #9,284
2001 modern 501 #9,448
2002 modern 497 #9,684
2003 modern 479 #9,793
2004 modern 492 #9,616
2005 modern 487 #9,621
2006 modern 493 #9,578
2007 modern 498 #9,592
2008 modern 496 #9,694
2009 modern 499 #9,879
2010 modern 510 #9,899
2011 modern 506 #9,873
2012 modern 502 #9,832
2013 modern 516 #9,783
2014 modern 518 #9,833
2015 modern 516 #9,789
2016 modern 513 #9,816

Geography

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Where Cartons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Bidstone, Manchester, Liverpool and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Altonhill South, Longpark and Hillhead, Ceredigion, North Lincolnshire and Test Valley. 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 3
2 Bidstone Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 035 Doncaster
2 Altonhill South, Longpark and Hillhead East Ayrshire
3 Ceredigion 003 Ceredigion
4 North Lincolnshire 009 North Lincolnshire
5 Test Valley 003 Test Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carton

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Carton 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

Carton 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

Carton 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 Carton 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Carton

The surname CARTON is of French origin, originating from the Old French word "carton" or "cartoun," meaning a pasteboard or cardboard. The name is believed to have originated in the Normandy region of northern France during the medieval period, possibly as an occupational name for someone who worked with cardboard or pasteboard materials.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname CARTON date back to the 13th century in various French records and documents. In the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are no recorded instances of the surname CARTON, suggesting that the name likely emerged later in northern France.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname CARTON was Guillaume Carton, who was born in Rouen, Normandy, around 1260. He was a prominent merchant and trader involved in the pasteboard industry, which likely contributed to the adoption of the occupational surname.

In the 15th century, Jean Carton (c. 1420-1489) was a notable French scholar and theologian who served as the rector of the University of Paris. He was known for his writings on theology and philosophy, and his works were widely studied in academic circles during the Renaissance period.

Another notable figure with the surname CARTON was René Carton (1642-1699), a French painter and engraver who was active in Paris during the 17th century. He is best known for his portraits and religious paintings, many of which can be found in churches and museums throughout France.

During the 18th century, Jacques Carton (1705-1782) was a French architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the development of the city of Lyon. He designed several notable buildings and public spaces in the city, including the Place des Terreaux and the Hôtel-Dieu hospital.

In the 19th century, Émile Carton (1823-1892) was a French politician and journalist who served as a member of the French National Assembly. He was an advocate for workers' rights and social reforms, and his writings and speeches had a significant impact on the political discourse of the time.

The surname CARTON has also been associated with various place names in France, such as Carton-Ville, a commune in the department of Calvados, and Carton-Blanc, a commune in the department of Gironde. These place names likely derived from individuals with the surname CARTON who settled or owned land in these areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carton 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 51 Cartons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.65x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 51 2.65x
Yorkshire 18 1.12x
Middlesex 15 0.93x
Cheshire 14 3.92x
Durham 12 2.49x
Essex 10 3.13x
Kent 10 1.81x
Renfrewshire 8 6.38x
Surrey 6 0.76x
Ayrshire 5 4.13x
Glamorgan 2 0.71x
Hampshire 2 0.60x
Lanarkshire 2 0.38x
Staffordshire 2 0.37x
Berkshire 1 0.82x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.02x
Derbyshire 1 0.39x
Gloucestershire 1 0.31x
Northumberland 1 0.42x
Royal Navy 1 5.18x
Sussex 1 0.37x
Warwickshire 1 0.24x
Wiltshire 1 0.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 14 Cartons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.00x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 14 12.00x
Broughton In Salford 8 45.53x
Islington London 7 4.46x
West Wickham 7 1320.75x
Clifford Cum Boston 6 416.67x
Downham 6 2857.14x
Mirfield 6 68.10x
Stockport 6 32.61x
Colchester St Giles 5 158.23x
Habergham Eaves 5 28.47x
Kilmaurs 5 242.72x
Leven 5 1063.83x
West Ham 5 7.09x
Witton Gilbert 5 263.16x
Brinnington 4 119.76x
Salford 4 7.08x
West Greenock 4 17.75x
Westoe 4 14.65x
Accrington 3 17.17x
Birkenhead 3 10.53x
Eastwood 3 38.81x
Toxteth Park 3 4.61x
Chelsea London 2 4.10x
Glasgow 2 2.15x
Lewisham 2 6.79x
Manchester 2 2.31x
Mile End Old Town London 2 5.80x
Newington 2 3.34x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 6.14x
Swansea Town 2 8.65x
West Derby 2 3.56x
Alverstoke 1 8.33x
Birmingham 1 0.73x
Bishopwearmouth 1 2.42x
Burton Upon Trent 1 7.82x
Chislehurst 1 33.78x
Clifton 1 6.23x
Crompton 1 18.28x
Croydon 1 2.28x
Devizes St James 1 52.63x
Eastbourne 1 7.96x
Elland Cum Greetland 1 13.83x
Great Marlow 1 37.88x
Hampton London 1 37.59x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 4.79x
Hound 1 44.44x
Kirkdale 1 3.09x
Lambeth 1 0.71x
Long Eaton 1 29.85x
Monks Coppenhall 1 7.41x
Newcastle On Tyne 1 384.62x
Old Windsor 1 70.92x
Pendleton In Salford 1 4.37x
Port Glasgow 1 16.47x
Royal Navy 1 6.06x
Shoreditch London 1 1.42x
Spotland 1 4.68x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.51x
Stockley 1 163.93x
Stoke Newington London 1 7.93x
Tamworth 1 34.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 7
Sarah 7
Margaret 5
Catherine 4
Ellen 4
Alice 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Jane 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Nancy 2
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Delia 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Estha 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Helene 1
I. 1
Isabella 1
Mabel 1
Penelope 1
Rachael 1
Rebecca 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
Thomas 7
John 6
Joseph 6
James 4
Henry 3
Alfred 2
Matthew 2
Peter 2
Albert 1
Aloysius 1
Andrew 1
Auguste 1
Christopher 1
Cicil 1
Francis 1
Garratt 1
George 1
Josepa 1
Mathew 1
Michael 1
Miles 1
Patrick 1
Pierre 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Stewart 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Carton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 167 people were recorded with the Carton surname. That placed it at #14,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 513 in 2016. That gives Carton a modern rank of #9,816.

What does the Carton surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word "carton" meaning cardboard or thick paper.

What does the Carton map show?

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