NameCensus.

UK surname

Caruso

An Italian occupational surname referring to someone who operated a cart or wagon.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Caruso surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 339, ranked #13,492, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Enfield, Cambridge and North Hertfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Caruso is 348 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33800.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

339

2016, ranked #13,492

Peak year

2014

348 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Caruso had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016, ranked #13,492.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Caruso surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Caruso surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Caruso 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
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 215 #16,844
1998 modern 231 #16,555
1999 modern 233 #16,554
2000 modern 222 #17,032
2001 modern 219 #16,967
2002 modern 255 #15,599
2003 modern 258 #15,293
2004 modern 256 #15,453
2005 modern 262 #15,182
2006 modern 286 #14,322
2007 modern 297 #14,135
2008 modern 315 #13,686
2009 modern 321 #13,770
2010 modern 323 #14,005
2011 modern 310 #14,292
2012 modern 320 #13,868
2013 modern 334 #13,648
2014 modern 348 #13,320
2015 modern 338 #13,527
2016 modern 339 #13,492

Geography

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Where Carusos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Enfield, Cambridge, North Hertfordshire, Luton and Broxbourne. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Enfield 007 Enfield
2 Cambridge 010 Cambridge
3 North Hertfordshire 012 North Hertfordshire
4 Luton 007 Luton
5 Broxbourne 004 Broxbourne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Caruso

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Caruso

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Caruso surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Caruso household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Caruso is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Caruso 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

Caruso falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Caruso 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Caruso

The surname Caruso originates from Italy and is believed to have derived from the Medieval Italian personal name Caruso, which itself comes from the Late Latin name Carus, meaning "dear" or "beloved." The earliest recorded use of the name Caruso can be traced back to the 12th century in Sicily and the surrounding regions of southern Italy.

During the Middle Ages, many Italians adopted surnames derived from personal names, often in the form of diminutives or pet names. The suffix "-uso" was commonly added to create these diminutive forms, leading to surnames like Caruso.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Caruso appears in a 14th-century document from the city of Palermo, Sicily, which mentions a certain Nicolò Caruso. In the 15th century, records show the presence of the Caruso family in the town of Sorrento, near Naples.

Over the centuries, variations of the spelling emerged, including Carusio, Carusi, and Caruzo, reflecting regional dialects and local pronunciation patterns. However, the modern standardized form of Caruso became predominant.

Some notable individuals bearing the surname Caruso throughout history include:

1. Enrico Caruso (1873-1921), a legendary Italian operatic tenor widely considered one of the greatest vocalists of all time. 2. Giovanni Caruso (1551-1630), an Italian architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Naples and its surroundings. 3. Renato Caruso (1924-2012), an Italian film director and screenwriter known for his work in the Commedia all'Italiana genre. 4. Tiberio Caruso (1780-1855), an Italian painter and art teacher who contributed to the Neoclassical and Romantic movements. 5. Alfredo Caruso (1865-1948), an Italian mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to the study of algebraic surfaces.

While the Caruso surname is most prevalent in southern Italy, particularly in the regions of Sicily, Campania, and Calabria, it has also spread to other parts of the country and beyond due to migration patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Caruso families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Caruso 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. Middlesex leads with 1 Carusos recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 1 Carusos recorded in 1881 and an index of 128.21x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 1 128.21x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Guiseppe 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Caruso households.

Occupation Count
Jeweller 1

FAQ

Caruso surname: questions and answers

How common was the Caruso surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Caruso surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Caruso surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016. That gives Caruso a modern rank of #13,492.

What does the Caruso surname mean?

An Italian occupational surname referring to someone who operated a cart or wagon.

What does the Caruso map show?

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