NameCensus.

UK surname

Carvalho

A Portuguese toponymic surname referring to an area covered with oak trees or derived from the word for "oak."

In the 1881 census there were 24 people recorded with the Carvalho surname, ranking it #30,215 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,694, ranked #3,688, up from #30,215 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Peterborough and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carvalho is 1,694 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6958.3%.

1881 census count

24

Ranked #30,215

Modern count

1,694

2016, ranked #3,688

Peak year

2016

1,694 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carvalho had 24 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,215 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,694 in 2016, ranked #3,688.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 41 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Carvalho surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carvalho surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carvalho 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 8 #32,887
1881 historical 24 #30,215
1891 historical 23 #32,389
1901 historical 41 #29,602
1911 historical 33 #29,703
1997 modern 448 #10,113
1998 modern 490 #9,749
1999 modern 528 #9,260
2000 modern 556 #8,874
2001 modern 545 #8,859
2002 modern 649 #7,959
2003 modern 689 #7,480
2004 modern 763 #6,935
2005 modern 872 #6,175
2006 modern 950 #5,794
2007 modern 1,020 #5,521
2008 modern 1,108 #5,186
2009 modern 1,240 #4,812
2010 modern 1,364 #4,504
2011 modern 1,327 #4,550
2012 modern 1,438 #4,215
2013 modern 1,543 #4,047
2014 modern 1,646 #3,841
2015 modern 1,644 #3,797
2016 modern 1,694 #3,688

Geography

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Where Carvalhos 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 Swindon, Peterborough, Brent and Lambeth. 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 Swindon 015 Swindon
2 Peterborough 014 Peterborough
3 Brent 034 Brent
4 Lambeth 011 Lambeth
5 Lambeth 010 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carvalho

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carvalho

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Carvalho surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Carvalho 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Carvalho is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Carvalho 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

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

Meaning and origin of Carvalho

The surname Carvalho is of Portuguese origin, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Portuguese word "carvalho," which means "oak tree." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near an oak grove or in an area where oak trees were abundant.

The earliest recorded instances of the Carvalho surname can be found in medieval documents from the northern regions of Portugal, particularly in the area around the city of Porto. In these records, the name often appears in various spellings, such as "Carvallo," "Carvalhio," and "Carvalhão," reflecting the linguistic evolution of the Portuguese language over time.

One notable historical figure bearing the Carvalho surname was Rui de Carvalho, a 14th-century Portuguese nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. He was born around 1320 and served as a commander under King Alfonso IV during the conquest of the Algarve region.

Another prominent individual with the Carvalho surname was Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, better known as the Marquis of Pombal, who lived from 1699 to 1782. He was a renowned Portuguese statesman and prime minister during the reign of King Joseph I. Pombal is credited with implementing significant reforms and modernizing Portugal during the Age of Enlightenment.

In the literary realm, Joaquim Machado de Carvalho, born in 1837 and better known by his pen name Júlio Dinis, was a notable Portuguese novelist and playwright. His works, such as "A Morgadinha dos Canaviais" and "As Pupilas do Senhor Reitor," are considered classics of Portuguese literature and provide insights into 19th-century Portuguese society.

The Carvalho surname is also associated with several place names in Portugal, such as Carvalho de Estarreja, a parish in the municipality of Aveiro, and Carvalho, a civil parish in the municipality of Murtosa. These place names likely originated from the presence of oak trees in those areas, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and the oak tree.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning Camilo Castelo Branco, a prolific 19th-century Portuguese writer and novelist who was born in 1825 with the surname Carvalho but later changed it to Castelo Branco. His works, including "Amor de Perdição" and "Novelas do Minho," are considered masterpieces of Portuguese literature and have had a lasting impact on the country's cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carvalho families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carvalho 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 17 Carvalhos recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.26x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 17 7.26x
Essex 4 8.66x
Surrey 3 2.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 8 Carvalhos recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.49x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 8 61.49x
Paddington London 4 46.51x
Walthamstow 4 240.96x
Lambeth 3 14.71x
Old Artillery Ground 3 1500.00x
Mile End Old Town London 1 20.08x
St George Bloomsbury 1 74.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Amelia 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Esther 1
Hester 1
Miriam 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Abraham 2
John 2
Samuel 2
Charles 1
Eugenie 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
Isaac 1
Mark 1
Raphael 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 Carvalho households.

FAQ

Carvalho surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carvalho surname in 1881?

In 1881, 24 people were recorded with the Carvalho surname. That placed it at #30,215 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carvalho surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,694 in 2016. That gives Carvalho a modern rank of #3,688.

What does the Carvalho surname mean?

A Portuguese toponymic surname referring to an area covered with oak trees or derived from the word for "oak."

What does the Carvalho map show?

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