NameCensus.

UK surname

Carty

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Fhiachrach," meaning "son of Fiachra," a personal name meaning "raven."

In the 1881 census there were 722 people recorded with the Carty surname, ranking it #5,047 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,435, ranked #2,704, up from #5,047 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fauldhouse, Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carty is 2,483 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 237.3%.

1881 census count

722

Ranked #5,047

Modern count

2,435

2016, ranked #2,704

Peak year

2014

2,483 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carty had 722 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,047 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,435 in 2016, ranked #2,704.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 884 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Carty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carty surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carty 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 843 #3,226
1861 historical 884 #3,139
1881 historical 722 #5,047
1891 historical 734 #5,406
1901 historical 791 #5,692
1911 historical 715 #5,975
1997 modern 2,203 #2,820
1998 modern 2,274 #2,837
1999 modern 2,293 #2,836
2000 modern 2,282 #2,829
2001 modern 2,265 #2,790
2002 modern 2,345 #2,768
2003 modern 2,281 #2,772
2004 modern 2,270 #2,777
2005 modern 2,258 #2,762
2006 modern 2,247 #2,779
2007 modern 2,287 #2,756
2008 modern 2,307 #2,759
2009 modern 2,424 #2,710
2010 modern 2,470 #2,726
2011 modern 2,430 #2,732
2012 modern 2,373 #2,740
2013 modern 2,452 #2,711
2014 modern 2,483 #2,700
2015 modern 2,460 #2,696
2016 modern 2,435 #2,704

Geography

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Where Cartys are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Fauldhouse, Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood, Copeland and Slough. 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 Whitechapel London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fauldhouse West Lothian
2 Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood South Lanarkshire
3 Copeland 004 Copeland
4 Slough 002 Slough
5 Slough 004 Slough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carty

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carty

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

Carty 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

Carty 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 Carty 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 Carty, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Carty

The surname Carty originated from Ireland, specifically in County Donegal. It is derived from the Gaelic word "cárthaigh," meaning "fortified town" or "settlement." The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 10th to 12th centuries.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient manuscript that chronicles events in medieval Ireland. In this text, the name is spelled as "Carthy." Over time, various spellings emerged, such as Carty, Carthy, and Carty-Carthy.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name was Turlough Carty, a chieftain of the Carty clan in County Donegal, who lived in the 15th century. Another notable figure was Edmond Carty, a Catholic priest and writer who was born in County Donegal in 1598 and died in 1669.

In the 17th century, the Carty surname became associated with the town of Ballyshannon, County Donegal, which was once referred to as "Carty's Town." This connection suggests that the name may have originated from a place name rather than a personal name.

One of the most famous individuals with the Carty surname was Sir Josiah Carty, an Irish-born British naval officer who lived from 1759 to 1828. He played a significant role in several naval battles during the Napoleonic Wars.

Another notable figure was John Carty, an Irish author and journalist born in 1859 and died in 1917. He was known for his works on Irish history and culture, including "The History of the Irish Brigades in the Service of France."

In the 20th century, one of the most prominent individuals with the Carty surname was John Carty, an American football player who was born in 1908 and died in 1981. He played as a halfback for the Chicago Bears and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carty 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 187 Cartys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.30x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 187 2.30x
Durham 76 3.73x
Cumberland 72 12.19x
Lanarkshire 61 2.75x
Middlesex 54 0.79x
Northumberland 41 4.02x
Cheshire 29 1.92x
Yorkshire 28 0.41x
Glamorgan 25 2.09x
Warwickshire 20 1.16x
Midlothian 17 1.85x
Staffordshire 16 0.69x
Derbyshire 12 1.12x
Surrey 12 0.36x
Kent 9 0.38x
Lincolnshire 9 0.82x
Ayrshire 6 1.17x
Hampshire 6 0.43x
Angus 3 0.47x
Essex 3 0.22x
Royal Navy 3 3.67x
Cardiganshire 2 1.20x
Monmouthshire 2 0.40x
Peeblesshire 2 6.20x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.16x
Devon 1 0.07x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.54x
Kinross-shire 1 5.77x
Renfrewshire 1 0.19x
Shropshire 1 0.17x
Somerset 1 0.09x
Sussex 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Arlecdon in Cumberland leads with 25 Cartys recorded in 1881 and an index of 159.24x.

Place Total Index
Arlecdon 25 159.24x
Sunderland 22 61.06x
Birmingham 19 3.30x
Manchester 19 5.19x
Cleator 17 69.19x
Avondale 16 123.36x
Toxteth Park 15 5.44x
Widnes 15 25.56x
Leeds 14 3.65x
Newchurch 14 21.03x
Stockport 14 17.97x
Longbenton 13 30.08x
Oldham 13 4.95x
Gateshead 12 7.86x
Monkwearmouth Shore 12 30.14x
Salford 12 5.01x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 11 2.98x
Merthyr Tydfil 11 9.58x
Glasgow 10 2.54x
Cardiff St Mary 9 13.68x
Chirton 9 38.98x
Govan 9 1.64x
Louth 9 35.81x
Dalziel 8 33.53x
Shotts 8 30.14x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 3.26x
Tunstall 8 78.74x
Whitechapel London 8 11.83x
Bishopwearmouth 7 4.00x
Deptford St Paul 7 3.88x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 7.92x
Hulme 7 4.12x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 11.49x
Preston 7 3.22x
Ryhope 7 49.44x
St Mary Within 7 94.85x
St Marylebone London 7 1.91x
Westminster St James 7 9.93x
Ashton In Makerfield 6 25.90x
Bradford 6 15.75x
Chelsea London 6 2.90x
Elswick 6 7.37x
Gorton 6 7.84x
Ilkeston 6 19.93x
Limehouse London 6 7.97x
Moston 6 73.53x
Uttoxeter 6 50.63x
Broughton In Salford 5 6.72x
Caldewgate 5 15.46x
High Ireby 5 1923.08x
Maryhill 5 11.52x
Newton In Makerfield 5 20.06x
Oxton 5 58.41x
Whitehaven 5 15.89x
Auckinleck 4 25.17x
Harrington 4 56.10x
Heap 4 9.27x
Kingsley 4 370.37x
Liverpool 4 0.81x
Newcastle On Tyne St 4 7.56x
Parr 4 13.74x
Tranmere 4 7.19x
Warrington 4 4.15x
Wigan 4 3.52x
Ashborne 3 41.10x
Barton Upon Irwell 3 4.90x
Bermondsey 3 1.47x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.01x
Bromley London 3 1.99x
Dodworth 3 42.49x
Dundee 3 1.26x
Eccleston In Prescot 3 7.34x
Great Bolton 3 2.78x
Newington 3 1.18x
Royal Navy 3 4.29x
Edinburgh Old 2 35.84x
Fulwood 2 22.75x
South Leith 2 1.93x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 1.45x
West Derby 2 0.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 59
Margaret 29
Bridget 24
Ann 19
Catherine 18
Elizabeth 17
Ellen 15
Sarah 11
Jane 9
Maria 8
Annie 7
Eliza 5
Frances 4
Hannah 4
Winifred 4
Harriet 3
Johanna 3
Louisa 3
Bessie 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Margt. 2
Rose 2
Salia 2
Alea 1
Anne 1
Bella 1
Bridgett 1
Caroline 1
Cathr. 1
Cicily 1
Clara 1
Dennis 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Elen 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Florences 1
George 1
Georgeina 1
Georgina 1
Helena 1
Isabel 1
Julia 1
Margarat 1
Margret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 59
James 38
Thomas 31
Patrick 18
William 15
Michael 14
Edward 11
Daniel 8
Charles 7
George 5
Joseph 5
Matthew 5
Owen 5
Peter 5
Timothy 5
Andrew 4
Henry 4
Jeremiah 4
Martin 4
Robert 3
Anthony 2
Dennis 2
Frederick 2
Garret 2
Lawrence 2
Mike 2
Morris 2
Patk. 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Christopher 1
Curly 1
Denis 1
Domenic 1
Domnick 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Infant 1
Jerimiah 1
Luke 1
Mathew 1
Michell 1
Paris 1
Redmond 1
Reginald 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Carty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 722 people were recorded with the Carty surname. That placed it at #5,047 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,435 in 2016. That gives Carty a modern rank of #2,704.

What does the Carty surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Fhiachrach," meaning "son of Fiachra," a personal name meaning "raven."

What does the Carty map show?

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