NameCensus.

UK surname

Kar

A surname derived from the Sanskrit word 'karma' or 'karu,' meaning one who performs or acts.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Kar surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 230, ranked #17,812, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmond upon Thames, Sheffield and Barking and Dagenham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kar is 230 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22900.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

230

2016, ranked #17,812

Peak year

2016

230 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kar had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016, ranked #17,812.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Kar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kar 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 3 #32,890
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1901 historical 7 #33,435
1997 modern 98 #27,179
1998 modern 112 #25,856
1999 modern 106 #26,885
2000 modern 115 #25,591
2001 modern 108 #26,184
2002 modern 121 #24,984
2003 modern 113 #25,797
2004 modern 132 #23,625
2005 modern 134 #23,406
2006 modern 151 #21,818
2007 modern 161 #21,201
2008 modern 165 #21,056
2009 modern 173 #20,869
2010 modern 192 #19,960
2011 modern 199 #19,346
2012 modern 207 #18,777
2013 modern 224 #18,080
2014 modern 220 #18,471
2015 modern 224 #18,117
2016 modern 230 #17,812

Geography

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Where Kars 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 Richmond upon Thames, Sheffield, Barking and Dagenham, Hounslow and Westminster. 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 Richmond upon Thames 022 Richmond upon Thames
2 Sheffield 042 Sheffield
3 Barking and Dagenham 015 Barking and Dagenham
4 Hounslow 012 Hounslow
5 Westminster 011 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kar

These lists show first names that appear often with the Kar 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 Kar

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

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Kar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Kar 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 never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Kar is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kar 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

Kar falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kar 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 Kar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kar

The surname Kar has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, with its roots potentially traced back to ancient Sanskrit and Prakrit languages. The name is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "kara," which means "hand" or "tax collector." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with occupations related to manual labor or tax collection.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kar can be found in ancient Hindu texts, such as the Mahabharata and the Puranas, where it is mentioned as a caste or community name. These texts date back to several centuries BCE, indicating the antiquity of the name.

In medieval times, the Kar surname was prevalent among various Hindu communities, particularly in the northern and central regions of the Indian subcontinent. Some historical records from the Mughal era, spanning the 16th to 18th centuries, mention individuals with the Kar surname holding administrative positions or serving as scribes and record-keepers.

Notable individuals bearing the Kar surname include Govindram Sakharam Kar (1835-1913), a prominent Indian educationist and social reformer from Maharashtra. Another prominent figure was Nirmalkant Kar (1833-1889), a Bengali writer, journalist, and social activist who played a significant role in the Bengali Renaissance.

In the 19th century, the Kar surname was also found among scholars and intellectuals, such as Shyamacharan Kar (1835-1902), a renowned Bengali scholar and writer who contributed to the preservation of Bengali literature and culture.

The name Kar has also been associated with various place names in the Indian subcontinent, such as Karanjia, a town in the state of Odisha, and Karauli, a city in Rajasthan. These place names may have influenced the spelling and variations of the surname over time.

Other notable individuals with the Kar surname include Sardar Bahadur Har Narain Kar (1858-1939), an Indian lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Imperial Legislative Council, and Prabhudayal Kar (1889-1968), a noted Indian freedom fighter and social reformer from Uttar Pradesh.

It is worth mentioning that the surname Kar has also been found in other parts of the world, potentially due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance can be primarily traced back to the Indian subcontinent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kar 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 1 Kars recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.74x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1 8.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigan in Lancashire leads with 1 Kars recorded in 1881 and an index of 625.00x.

Place Total Index
Wigan 1 625.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
David 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 Kar households.

Occupation Count
Drapers Assistant 1

FAQ

Kar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kar surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Kar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016. That gives Kar a modern rank of #17,812.

What does the Kar surname mean?

A surname derived from the Sanskrit word 'karma' or 'karu,' meaning one who performs or acts.

What does the Kar map show?

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