UK surname
A Scottish habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "fort of Rydderch" in Old Welsh.
In the 1881 census there were 97 people recorded with the Caruthers surname, ranking it #20,127 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 17, ranked #36,904, down from #20,127 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Carlisle St Cuthbert and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Caruthers is 195 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 82.5%.
1881 census count
97
Ranked #20,127
Modern count
17
2016, ranked #36,904
Peak year
1861
195 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Caruthers surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Caruthers surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 147 | #13,084 |
| 1861 | historical | 195 | #12,263 |
| 1881 | historical | 97 | #20,127 |
| 1891 | historical | 130 | #20,173 |
| 1901 | historical | 42 | #29,487 |
| 1911 | historical | 15 | #31,938 |
| 1997 | modern | 20 | #35,809 |
| 1998 | modern | 22 | #35,687 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 10 | #36,852 |
| 2002 | modern | 11 | #36,780 |
| 2003 | modern | 14 | #36,512 |
| 2004 | modern | 15 | #36,530 |
| 2005 | modern | 12 | #36,936 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 12 | #37,143 |
| 2009 | modern | 12 | #37,230 |
| 2010 | modern | 13 | #37,215 |
| 2011 | modern | 13 | #37,191 |
| 2012 | modern | 16 | #36,897 |
| 2013 | modern | 18 | #36,787 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 18 | #36,809 |
| 2016 | modern | 17 | #36,904 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Carlisle St Cuthbert, Govan Combination, Toxteth Park and Workington (Workington), Clossocks. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | Carlisle St Cuthbert | Cumberland |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 5 | Workington (Workington), Clossocks | Cumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Caruthers surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Caruthers, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Caruthers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Caruthers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Caruthers is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Caruthers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Caruthers, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Caruthers is of Scottish origin, arising in the 13th century from the lands of Caruthers in Annandale, Dumfriesshire. The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Cathair Ualrich', meaning 'the fort of Ualrich', an ancient Gaelic personal name.
The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the ancient Scottish charters relating to the lands of Caruthers. In 1292, a Willelmus de Carutheris is mentioned as holding these lands. Another early record is of a Nicol de Carrutheris in 1296.
The Caruthers family played an important role in the turbulent history of the Scottish Borders. They were staunch supporters of the Bruce family and Robert the Bruce in the Wars of Scottish Independence against England in the early 14th century. Sir William Caruthers was knighted by King Robert I for his bravery in battle.
In the 16th century, the Caruthers were involved in the infamous Border Reivers conflicts, with the family's chief, John Caruthers, being declared a rebel and outlaw by the English Crown in 1569 for his raids across the Border into England.
Notable Caruthers individuals throughout history include Sir William Caruthers (c.1270-1340), a knight and supporter of Robert the Bruce; John Caruthers (c.1520-1590), a Border Reiver chief; Robert Caruthers (1800-1882), a Scottish-Canadian author and educator; and Wallace Caruthers (1827-1899), a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as a Senator.
Another famous bearer of the name was Robert Caruthers (1834-1917), an American lawyer and politician who served as Governor of Tennessee from 1863 to 1865 during the American Civil War. He later became the United States Ambassador to Mexico from 1885 to 1892.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Caruthers surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 25 Caruthers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.23x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 25 | 2.23x |
| Lanarkshire | 14 | 4.58x |
| Cumberland | 13 | 15.96x |
| Ayrshire | 8 | 11.30x |
| Denbighshire | 7 | 19.59x |
| Durham | 7 | 2.49x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.42x |
| Midlothian | 3 | 2.37x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 2.13x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.96x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 2.92x |
| Selkirkshire | 2 | 23.36x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.84x |
| Angus | 1 | 1.14x |
| Dunbartonshire | 1 | 3.93x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.31x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 1 | 7.30x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.11x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toxteth Park in Lancashire leads with 14 Caruthers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.83x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Toxteth Park | 14 | 36.83x |
| Barony | 11 | 14.21x |
| Flimby | 9 | 1304.35x |
| Llanferres | 7 | 3181.82x |
| Broughton In Salford | 6 | 58.48x |
| Kilwinning | 6 | 262.01x |
| Whickham | 5 | 193.05x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 3 | 33.67x |
| Corstorphine | 3 | 428.57x |
| Aspatria | 2 | 256.41x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 2.52x |
| Girvan | 2 | 112.36x |
| Govan | 2 | 2.64x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.18x |
| Selkirk | 2 | 82.99x |
| Shire Newton | 2 | 800.00x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 3.96x |
| Aberlemno | 1 | 312.50x |
| Berwick Upon Tweed | 1 | 33.56x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 1 | 4.14x |
| Blackburn | 1 | 3.35x |
| Caldewgate | 1 | 22.42x |
| Dalton In Furness | 1 | 23.09x |
| Dukinfield | 1 | 10.36x |
| East Kilbride | 1 | 76.34x |
| Keswick | 1 | 96.15x |
| Kirkintilloch | 1 | 28.99x |
| Milton In Gravesend | 1 | 20.66x |
| Monkwearmouth | 1 | 37.17x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 1 | 11.89x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St John | 1 | 54.05x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 3.35x |
| Stockport | 1 | 9.30x |
| Terregles | 1 | 666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Caruthers surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Caruthers surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Caruthers households.
FAQ
In 1881, 97 people were recorded with the Caruthers surname. That placed it at #20,127 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 17 in 2016. That gives Caruthers a modern rank of #36,904.
A Scottish habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "fort of Rydderch" in Old Welsh.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Caruthers bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.