NameCensus.

UK surname

Karas

A nickname derived from the Turkish word "karaş," meaning "black eyebrows" or "dark-complexioned."

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Karas surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 234, ranked #17,572, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Melton, Camden and Test Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Karas is 238 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23300.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

234

2016, ranked #17,572

Peak year

2014

238 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Karas had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 234 in 2016, ranked #17,572.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Karas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Karas surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Karas 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 1 #34,332
1997 modern 82 #29,325
1998 modern 85 #29,439
1999 modern 84 #29,700
2000 modern 84 #29,706
2001 modern 84 #29,508
2002 modern 89 #29,428
2003 modern 92 #28,974
2004 modern 100 #27,964
2005 modern 101 #27,854
2006 modern 128 #24,267
2007 modern 136 #23,708
2008 modern 153 #22,132
2009 modern 162 #21,791
2010 modern 179 #20,886
2011 modern 197 #19,483
2012 modern 218 #18,139
2013 modern 226 #17,969
2014 modern 238 #17,480
2015 modern 233 #17,627
2016 modern 234 #17,572

Geography

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Where Karas' 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 Melton, Camden, Test Valley, Eastbourne and Norwich. 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 Melton 002 Melton
2 Camden 011 Camden
3 Test Valley 002 Test Valley
4 Eastbourne 010 Eastbourne
5 Norwich 014 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Karas

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Karas

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Karas, 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 Karas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Karas 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Karas is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Karas 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

Karas falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Karas

The surname Karas has its origins in Lithuania and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Lithuanian word "kara," which means "war" or "battle." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who was a warrior or soldier.

The earliest recorded instance of the Karas surname can be found in the Metrica of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a historical record of the Lithuanian nobility and gentry from the 15th to the 18th century. In these records, the name appears as "Karas" and "Karasius."

One notable individual bearing the Karas surname was Jonas Karalius (1561-1629), a Lithuanian nobleman and military leader who served as the Grand Hetman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1619 to 1629. He played a crucial role in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's victory over the Swedish Empire in the Polish-Swedish War (1626-1629).

Another historical figure with the Karas surname was Mykolas Karas (1708-1782), a Lithuanian Catholic priest and philosopher. He was a prominent figure in the Lithuanian Enlightenment movement and is best known for his work "Aritmetikos praktika" (The Practice of Arithmetic), published in 1737.

In the 19th century, Antanas Karas (1838-1912) was a Lithuanian writer and publisher. He is remembered for his contributions to the development of Lithuanian literature and his efforts in promoting the Lithuanian language and culture.

The Karas surname can also be found in various place names throughout Lithuania. For instance, the village of Karasiškės, located in the Vilnius district, is believed to have derived its name from the Karas family who once resided there.

It is worth noting that the Karas surname has undergone some spelling variations over time, such as Karasius, Karasius, and Karašius. However, the predominant spelling remains Karas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Karas families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Karas 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. Durham leads with 1 Karas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.84x.

County Total Index
Durham 1 34.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stranton in Durham leads with 1 Karas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1000.00x.

Place Total Index
Stranton 1 1000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Hugo 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 Karas households.

Occupation Count
O Seaman ((Sailor)) 1

FAQ

Karas surname: questions and answers

How common was the Karas surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Karas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 234 in 2016. That gives Karas a modern rank of #17,572.

What does the Karas surname mean?

A nickname derived from the Turkish word "karaş," meaning "black eyebrows" or "dark-complexioned."

What does the Karas map show?

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