NameCensus.

UK surname

Carveth

English surname transferred from the word for a woodcarver or maker of wooden objects.

In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Carveth surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 95, ranked #31,782, down from #18,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mevagissey, St Agnes and St Breock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carveth is 144 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.8%.

1881 census count

117

Ranked #18,026

Modern count

95

2016, ranked #31,782

Peak year

1901

144 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2006

Key insights

  • Carveth had 117 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 95 in 2016, ranked #31,782.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 144 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Carveth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Carveth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carveth 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 111 #16,006
1861 historical 94 #21,883
1881 historical 117 #18,026
1891 historical 143 #18,920
1901 historical 144 #18,505
1911 historical 129 #19,577
1997 modern 109 #25,650
1998 modern 105 #26,822
1999 modern 116 #25,487
2000 modern 122 #24,698
2001 modern 128 #23,665
2002 modern 111 #26,291
2003 modern 107 #26,617
2004 modern 100 #27,964
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 100 #28,283
2007 modern 102 #28,351
2008 modern 103 #28,519
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 113 #28,162
2011 modern 106 #29,157
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 102 #30,415
2014 modern 99 #31,186
2015 modern 96 #31,624
2016 modern 95 #31,782

Geography

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Where Carveths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mevagissey, St Agnes, St Breock, Kenwyn, Tregavethan and St Clement. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Mevagissey Cornwall
2 St Agnes Cornwall
3 St Breock Cornwall
4 Kenwyn, Tregavethan Cornwall
5 St Clement Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 043 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 053 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 042 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 052 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 040 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carveth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carveth

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Carveth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Carveth household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Carveth is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Carveth is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Carveth falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Carveth 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Carveth

The surname Carveth has its origins in the British Isles, specifically in England and Wales. It is believed to have emerged in the late medieval period, around the 14th or 15th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cærfæð," which refers to a path or track through a wood or forest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Carveth can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1379, which mention a certain John Carveth. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time in northern England. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a Roger Carvethe, indicating that variations of the spelling were present in different regions.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various parish records and court proceedings. For example, in 1569, a William Carveth is recorded as a witness in a land dispute in Gloucestershire. Around the same time, there are references to a family of Carveths residing in the village of Stoke Lyne in Oxfordshire.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the name Carveth was John Carveth (c. 1660-1737), a prominent merchant and landowner in Bristol. He was involved in the city's thriving trade with the American colonies and acquired substantial wealth and property.

Another significant figure was Sir Thomas Carveth (1775-1856), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Napoleonic Wars. He rose through the ranks and was knighted for his service, eventually becoming a Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy.

In the literary realm, Richard Carveth Read (1836-1912) was a notable English philosopher and logician. He authored several works on logic and philosophy of science, including "The Origin of Man and His Cosmic Connections" (1889).

During the Victorian era, the name Carveth was also associated with the arts. Arthur Carveth (1858-1928) was a respected English painter known for his landscapes and portraiture. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and are held in various museum collections.

Finally, in the 20th century, Hereward Carveth (1898-1973) was a British actor who appeared in numerous films and television shows, often playing character roles. He had a prolific career spanning over four decades, appearing in productions such as "The Colditz Story" (1955) and "The Avengers" (1965).

These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the surname Carveth throughout history, demonstrating its enduring presence and significance in various fields and walks of life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carveth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carveth 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. Cornwall leads with 99 Carveths recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.97x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 99 75.97x
Middlesex 9 0.78x
Devon 5 2.09x
Gloucestershire 2 0.89x
Lancashire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 7.29x
Warwickshire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Agnes in Cornwall leads with 35 Carveths recorded in 1881 and an index of 1912.57x.

Place Total Index
St Agnes 35 1912.57x
St Allen 14 6086.96x
St Clement 13 955.88x
Mevagissey 8 919.54x
Gorran 5 1351.35x
Limehouse London 5 39.56x
St Breock 5 714.29x
Stoke Damerel 5 29.82x
Egloshayle 4 655.74x
Camborne 3 55.87x
Kenwyn 3 87.98x
St Pancras London 3 3.24x
St Austell 2 44.94x
St Columb Major 2 185.19x
Bristol St Paul In 1 16.64x
Charlton Kings 1 64.10x
Ladock 1 270.27x
Madron Penzance 1 21.10x
Redruth 1 27.10x
Royal Navy 1 8.53x
St Ervan 1 666.67x
Stockton 1 370.37x
Thornton In Fylde 1 33.44x
Truro St Mary 1 91.74x
Twickenham 1 20.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 5
Ellen 5
Mary 5
Annie 3
Elizabeth 3
Frances 3
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Bessie 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Maria 2
Susan 2
Alice 1
Avis 1
Bethia 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Margret 1
Martha 1
Philippa 1
Priscilla 1
Trease 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 6
Henry 5
James 4
Arthur 3
Thomas 3
Bennett 2
Chas. 2
Joseph 2
Oliver 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Buckland 1
Francis 1
Guy 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Lawrence 1
Olie 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Carveth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carveth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Carveth surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carveth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 95 in 2016. That gives Carveth a modern rank of #31,782.

What does the Carveth surname mean?

English surname transferred from the word for a woodcarver or maker of wooden objects.

What does the Carveth map show?

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