NameCensus.

UK surname

Karen

A name derived from the Greek name "Aikaterine" meaning pure or innocent.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Hertfordshire, Camden and Trafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Karen is 128 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

2016

128 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 51 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Karen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Karen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Karen 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 7 #32,070
1861 historical 51 #27,498
1891 historical 17 #32,787
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 8 #32,903
1997 modern 39 #33,759
1998 modern 48 #33,111
1999 modern 42 #33,778
2000 modern 38 #34,146
2001 modern 32 #34,537
2002 modern 37 #34,390
2003 modern 36 #34,522
2004 modern 43 #34,149
2005 modern 47 #34,011
2006 modern 51 #33,992
2007 modern 53 #34,115
2008 modern 58 #33,918
2009 modern 52 #34,544
2010 modern 54 #34,582
2011 modern 60 #34,202
2012 modern 99 #30,442
2013 modern 98 #31,078
2014 modern 110 #29,294
2015 modern 113 #28,645
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Karens 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 North Hertfordshire, Camden, Trafford, Runnymede and Wandsworth. 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 North Hertfordshire 005 North Hertfordshire
2 Camden 024 Camden
3 Trafford 010 Trafford
4 Runnymede 006 Runnymede
5 Wandsworth 031 Wandsworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Karen

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

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Karen is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Karen 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

Karen falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Karen 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Karen

The surname "Karen" has its origins in the Middle English period, derived from the Old Norse name "Katrin" or "Katrine." This name ultimately traces its roots back to the Greek name "Aikaterine," meaning "pure" or "unblemished." The earliest known record of the surname "Karen" dates back to the 13th century in England.

In the late 11th century, the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, recorded several variations of the name, such as "Katerina" and "Katrina." These entries suggest that the name was already in use among the Anglo-Saxon population before the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "Karen" was John Karen, a landowner from Norfolk, England, who lived in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was Margaret Karen, a wealthy merchant from York, who was mentioned in local records from the early 15th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname "Karen" began to spread throughout the British Isles, with several variations emerging, such as "Karren," "Karrin," and "Karin." One prominent individual from this period was Sir Thomas Karren, a successful merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire, born in 1585.

As the British Empire expanded, the surname "Karen" traveled to various parts of the world. In the late 18th century, James Karen, a Scottish explorer and naturalist, made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in the West Indies. He was born in 1742 in Glasgow.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Karen, a pioneering educator and social reformer from Ireland, born in 1825. She established several schools for underprivileged children and campaigned for women's rights and education.

In the 19th century, the surname "Karen" found its way to the United States, where it continued to evolve with various spellings, such as "Karren" and "Careen." One prominent American with this surname was Samuel Karren, a Civil War veteran and politician from Ohio, who served as a state senator in the late 1800s.

Throughout its long history, the surname "Karen" has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting the rich tapestry of cultural and social influences that have shaped its evolution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Karen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Karen 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. Isle of Man leads with 1 Karens recorded in 1881 and an index of 555.56x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 1 555.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Onchan in Isle of Man leads with 1 Karens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2000.00x.

Place Total Index
Onchan 1 2000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Susannah 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 Karen households.

Occupation Count
Annuitant 1

FAQ

Karen surname: questions and answers

How common is the Karen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Karen a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Karen surname mean?

A name derived from the Greek name "Aikaterine" meaning pure or innocent.

What does the Karen map show?

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