The Carr surname
In the 2010 U.S. Census, 119,076 people carried this name — #255 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 2,480 people counted. That is up 5% from 113,892 in 2000.
What the name means
The meaning of the Carr surname
A northern English habitational surname from Old Norse derived from Old Norse kjarr (“brushwood”).
As an English and Scottish surname, variant of Kerr.
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Carr» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.
In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890
Ireland registered 90 births for the Carr name in 1890.
They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 4,000 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 5 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Donegal, Galway, and Dublin.”
Where it concentrates, on the mapWhere they were born, 1890
Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.
In Argentina’s national register
At least 53 people named Carr live in Argentina.
RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.
In France’s civil register
France’s register of deaths holds 45 people named Carr.
Most of them — 35 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 4 départements, most often Finistère.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they were born
Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.
In Switzerland’s population statistics
36 people named Carr live in Switzerland.
They live in 6 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Vaud.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.
In Poland’s population register
26 people named Carr have a registered home in Poland.
Of the 99 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 9 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Lesser Poland.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.
In the Nordic population registers
106 people named Carr are counted in Sweden and Finland.
Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published. Finland counts its citizens, at home or abroad.
Counted, by country
Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown) · Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Finland, surname statistics, August 2026 — CC BY 4.0.
Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s
Carr was found among the farmers of 9 counties.
It was most frequent in Northumberland: 50 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 200. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.
Where it concentrates, on the mapPer 10,000 farmers, by county
And 1 more county.
H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.
In Scotland’s registers today
Carr was recorded 98 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.
That made it the 264th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 163. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.
National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
In the first U.S. census, 1790
494 families named Carr, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.
Each family is counted by its head. About 2,752 people lived in those households, 5.6 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 11 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.
Families, by state
U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 233 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.
In print
Carr in American newspapers,
1900–1927.
Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.
In print
Carr in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2010s.
170,124 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Carr. The most, 27,697, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in South Australia, at 1.5 times its expected share.
Articles, by state
Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Carr.
Who carried it
People named Carr,
with a public archive behind them.
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John C. Carr d. 1967 · politician
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William Carr d. 1742 · politician
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Phil Carr-Harris d. 1993 · Canadian football player
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John Carr d. 1887 · politician
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Allan C. Carr d. 2021 · politician
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Oswald Carr d. 1868 · military officer
Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.
In the public record
People named Carr,
in the records of 9 countries.
Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.
United States14,300 records
- U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 4,208
- New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 3,209
- Other U.S. records 6,883
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Example: U.S. war memorial War record Gregory Vernon CarrBorn 1947; from Santa Barbara, California. U.S. Army, infantryman; died of wounds 1968 in Tay Ninh, South Vietnam. Buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, California.
U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) -
Example: U.S. war memorial War record Luther E. CarrBorn 1933; from Knox County, Tennessee. U.S. Army, light weapons infantryman; killed in action 1951 in North Korea. Buried at Knoxville National Cemetery, Tennessee.
U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) -
Example: U.S. registration card, 1942 Military record Wallace W. CarrBorn 1919 in New Jersey. Enlisted 1942 at Camp Upton Yaphank, New York; weaver. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1998, buried at Rural Valley Cemetery Assoc Inc, Port Jervis, New York.
U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
Showing 3 of 14,300 records for Carr in the United States.
Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain).
Australia4,662 records
- Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 2,388
- Tasmanian Names Index 751
- Other Australian records 1,523
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Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829 Transportation record Jane CarrTransported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Edward, sailing from Woolwich in 1834. Native of Leeds, Yorkshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1842.
Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) -
Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829 Transportation record Cecilia CarrTransported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Lord Auckland, sailing from Dublin in 1848. Native of Galway. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1850.
Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) -
Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829 Transportation record Thomas CarrTransported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the William Miles, sailing from Downs in 1828. Native of Dublin, Dublin. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1838.
Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
Showing 3 of 4,662 records for Carr in Australia.
Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).
Canada878 records
- Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 615
- Canadian Virtual War Memorial 55
- Other Canadian records 208
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Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917 War record Gaile CarrServed in the No. 2 Construction Battalion in the First World War, private; of Clarkesville, Tennessee.
Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. -
Example: passenger manifest, 1903 Passenger record Henry CarrCame to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Lake Ontario, landing at Quebec, bound for Hamilton, Ontario; English.
Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. -
Example: Canadian cemetery Burial record Edward Robert CarrBuried in 1972 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 77.
City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
Showing 3 of 878 records for Carr in Canada.
Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).
United Kingdom187 records
- War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 130
- St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 34
- Other British records 23
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Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919 War record William Alexander Christie CarrBorn 1884 at Dunnottar. Served in the First World War. Named in the University of Aberdeen roll of service in the Great War, 1914-1919.
National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) -
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Archibald CarrBuried in 1934 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 24.
Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. -
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Robert CarrBuried in 1829 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 38.
MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Showing 3 of 187 records for Carr in the United Kingdom.
Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).
New Zealand77 records
- Christchurch City cemetery records 58
- Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 7
- Other New Zealand records 12
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Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record John Basil CarrDied 1961, aged 65; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.
Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Mary Margaret CarrDied 1974, aged 64; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.
Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
Showing 2 of 77 records for Carr in New Zealand.
Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Canterbury Maps (Environment Canterbury), Timaru and Mackenzie District Councils (CC BY 3.0 NZ). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).
Netherlands37 records
- Dutch population registers 22
- Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 11
- Dutch church registers before 1811 4
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Example: U.S. census, 1910 Population register Josephine Marie CarrIn the population register of Leeds (Gb); nun, born 1884 in Leeds (Gb).
Open Archives, West Brabants Archief (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: civil register, 1880 Death record Walter Charles Frederick CarrDied 1958 in Hoek van Holland, aged 50.
Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
Showing 2 of 37 records for Carr in the Netherlands.
Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).
Ireland18 records
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Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Bridget CarrDied 1919, aged 43; buried at Killursa, Co. Galway.
Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Nora CarrDied 1991, aged 79; buried at Clontuskert, Co. Galway.
Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
Showing 2 of 18 records for Carr in Ireland.
Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).
France12 records
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Example: French death register, 1930 Death record Kathleen CarrBorn 1924 in Sheffield (Angleterre); died 2000 in Paris.
Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte) -
Example: French death register, 1930 Death record Jean Louis Marie CarrBorn 1912 in Mespaul; died 1993 in Morlaix (Finistère).
Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
Showing 2 of 12 records for Carr in France.
Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).
Norway3 records
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Example: U.S. census, 1910 Census record Marie CarrCensus of 1910: Karlsrogate, Larvik; ironer, born 1848 in Larvik.
Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
Showing 1 of 3 records for Carr in Norway.
Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).
Nearby in the index
Surnames next to Carr.
- Carpena 253 · U.S. census
- Carpenter 129,898 · U.S. census
- Carpentier 2,345 · U.S. census
- Carper 6,002 · U.S. census
- Carpin 186 · U.S. census
- Carpio 7,561 · U.S. census
- Carra 812 · U.S. census
- Carral 225 · U.S. census
- Carranza 28,581 · U.S. census
- Carrara 1,487 · U.S. census
- Carraro 215 · U.S. census
- Carras 439 · U.S. census
When the index is not enough
This page says where Carr is.
A volume says what happened to it.
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