The Cartwright surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 22,156 people carried this name — #1,626 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 13,300 people counted. That is up 2% from 21,654 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Cartwright surname

An English surname originating as an occupation for someone who made carts.

English surname, from the nouns cart + wright (“maker, crafter”). As a Dutch surname, variant of Courtwright. The settlement in Labrador was named by British military officer, entrepreneur and author George Cartwright (1739/1740 – 1819), who established a fish and fur trading business at the location of the settlement.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Cartwright» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as an occupational name: ‘the cartwright’.

An early record he cites: Magota Cartwryght, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 163 · public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

28 people named Cartwright live in Switzerland.

They live in 3 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 14
St. Gallen 9
Vaud 5

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 the Nordic population registers

20 people named Cartwright is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 20

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).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Cartwright was found among the farmers of 7 counties.

It was most frequent in Lincolnshire: 30 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 333. 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 map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Lincolnshire 30
Shropshire 22
Bedfordshire 20
Nottinghamshire 16
Staffordshire 14
Yorkshire, West Riding 11
Cheshire 9

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

Cartwright was recorded 25 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 962nd most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 22. 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

107 families named Cartwright, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 579 people lived in those households, 5.4 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 7 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

North Carolina 45
New York 20
Pennsylvania 15
Massachusetts 9
Maryland 8
Vermont 3
Connecticut 3
Virginia 3
Rhode Island 1

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

Cartwright in American newspapers,
1869–1883.

Newspaper page from The Weekly Thibodaux Sentinel And Journal Of The 8th Senatorial District carrying the name Cartwright
The Weekly Thibodaux Sentinel And Journal Of The 8th Senatorial District 1883-07-28
Newspaper page from The Weekly Thibodaux Sentinel And Journal Of The 8th Senatorial District carrying the name Cartwright
The Weekly Thibodaux Sentinel And Journal Of The 8th Senatorial District 1883-09-29
Newspaper page from The Jackson Standard carrying the name Cartwright
The Jackson Standard 1869-12-02

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 2,657 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Cartwright in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

27,763 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Cartwright. The most, 4,358, date from the 1890s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in New South Wales, at 1.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 12,009
Victoria 4,364
South Australia 3,254
Queensland 3,065
Tasmania 2,404
Western Australia 2,280
ACT (Canberra) 237
Northern Territory 38

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Cartwright.

Who carried it

People named Cartwright,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Francis Cartwright d. 1758 · architect
  • Buck Cartwright d. 1991 · military personnel
  • William Cartwright d. 1768 · politician
  • Henry Cartwright d. 1736 · politician
  • Keith Cartwright d. 1972 · politician
  • Hugh Cartwright d. 1572 · politician

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Cartwright,
in the records of 7 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 States1,936 records

1,936 records of the Cartwright name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 759
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 350
  • Other U.S. records 827
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Jimmy Cartwright

    Born 1936; from Mountainburg, Arkansas. U.S. Army, fixed wing aviation unit commander; killed in action 1964 in South Vietnam. Buried at Little Rock National Cemetery, Arkansas.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Una P. Cartwright

    Born 1897 in Missouri. Enlisted 1944 in the Women's Army Corps at Los Angeles, California; sales clerk. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1975, buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Marcellus Cartwright

    Arrived at Boston in 1885 aboard the Samaria from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 23; spinner. From Scotland; bound for Boston.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,936 records for Cartwright in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · 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). 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); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,336 records

1,336 records of the Cartwright name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 656
  • Tasmanian Names Index 310
  • Other Australian records 370
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Henry Cartwright

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Woodman, sailing from London in 1825. Native of Caunton, Nottinghamshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1840.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Sarah Ann Cartwright

    Died 1896 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 87. Will registered in Tasmania in 1896.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Joseph Cartwright

    Arrived in Victoria in 1852 aboard the Ottillia, aged 12; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,336 records for Cartwright 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) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). 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); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada151 records

151 records of the Cartwright name in Canada
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 35
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 32
  • Other Canadian records 84
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record James Edward Cartwright

    Lost in the sinking of the Titanic, 1912, aged 50; a crew member. Body recovered and buried at Halifax.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jno Cartwright

    Came to Ontario in 1874 aboard the Prussian, bound for Washago, Ontario; England.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Arthur Bernard Cartwright

    Buried in 1986 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 84.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 151 records for Cartwright in Canada.

Counts: 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. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

United Kingdom87 records

87 records of the Cartwright name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 62
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 11
  • Other British records 14
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record James Cartwright

    Died 1916, aged 35; buried at Strathblane Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record John Cartwright

    Will proved in 1891; of Bangor, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. W. Cartwright

    Manchester Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 87 records for Cartwright 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 Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand33 records

33 records of the Cartwright name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 19
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 10
  • Other New Zealand records 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ada Cartwright

    Died 1947, aged 67; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Elsie Olive Cartwright

    Buried in 1957 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 66.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record A. Cartwright

    New Zealand Engineers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 33 records for Cartwright in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · 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); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Netherlands14 records

14 records of the Cartwright name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 7
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 7
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Charles Henrij Cartwright

    Died 1940 in 's-Gravenhage, aged 57.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record William Howard Cartwright

    Married in 1946 in Maarssen.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Olive Cartwright

    Married in 1946 in Velsen.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 14 records for Cartwright in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France4 records

4 records of the Cartwright name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Colin Francis Cartwright

    Born 1939 in the United Kingdom; died 1992 in Lorignac (Charente-Maritime).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Mary Ellen Cartwright

    Born 1901 in Chantilly; died 1984 in Senlis (Oise).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Cartwright 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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Cartwright.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Cartwright is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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