Skip to content
  • Start free trial

Origins of the Carter surname

A collage of historical images including two family portraits and a postcard of people boarding a ship

What does the name Carter mean?

Carter is a name of Irish, English and Scottish extraction. The origin of the surname Carter is mostly occupational, deriving from someone who used a wagon or cart to transport goods from place to place. Carter can also stem from the Gaelic word 'cairtear', a description of someone who is a traveller or non-native. The surname Carter is also often used by African Americans as a result of the enslaved being given the surname of their slavers, making it the 22nd most prevalent surname in the Black American community.

Alternative variations of the name Carter

Carter, Carters, Carther, Karter, Cartar

“

I’ve managed to trace back to the mid-1500s! I can’t believe it! Utterly engrossing and I have uncovered some quite moving and heartbreaking stories attached to various ancestors. You don’t need any qualifications to start - just time patience, and some information.

SS
Stuart
TrustPilot review
1 of 3

Start your family tree

Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Carters.

Sign up to get started

Delve deeper into the Carter family's history

Where do most Carters live?

In 1921, most Carters lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Carters

How common is your surname?

51st most common surname in the UK

We have 527,000 records for the Carter surname. The oldest one dates back to .

Who were Carters most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Johnsons

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Carters.

What are the most common Carter first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Carter family members

Common jobs for Carters

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Carters in 1921
Dressmaker

2,225

Laundress

1,624

Domestic Servant

1,303

General Servant Domestic

1,269

General Servant

999

Common Male occupations for Carters in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

3,182

General Labourer

2,160

Farm Labourer

1,691

Carpenter

1,587

Coal Miner

1,338

An image of a census transcript and a picture of a dairy farmer holding two milk jugs

Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 530,000 family trees with the Carter surname

Trace your family back in time and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Carters.

Search for a relative in our family trees

Share your discoveries

Find out more about your family in our records

or try an advanced search

Start your family history journey

Start free trial

Start free trial