Care
A surname derived from the Old English word "caru" meaning sorrow, anxiety or care.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 857 Americans carry the last name Care. That puts it at #31,790 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.25 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 399,947 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Care surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
857
1 in 399,947
Census rank
#31,790
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
726
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 726 bearers of the surname Care in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.25 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 31790th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Care, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%) and Black (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Care
The surname CARE is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "caru" or "cæru," meaning "care" or "anxiety." It likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone with a worrisome or anxious disposition.
The earliest recorded instances of the CARE surname date back to the late 12th century in various counties of England, such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Oxfordshire. Some of the earliest spellings include Carus, Carre, and Kare.
In the renowned Domesday Book, a survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, there are references to individuals with names resembling CARE, such as Carus and Karus, suggesting the surname's existence at that time.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the CARE surname was William Carus, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195. Another early bearer of the name was Hugh Carus, who was documented in the Curia Regis Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1212.
The CARE surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Carew in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and Carew Castle, the ancestral seat of the Carew family. The name Carew is believed to be derived from the Welsh words "car" (fort) and "rhiw" (slope), indicating a fortified location on a slope.
Notable individuals with the CARE surname throughout history include:
1. Henry Care (1646-1688), an English philosopher and writer known for his work "An English Expositor" and his defense of free will.
2. Sir Nicholas Care (1536-1596), an English courtier and diplomat during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
3. Robert Care (1663-1723), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Regius Professor of Greek at Cambridge University.
4. Edward Care (1622-1688), an English Puritan minister and writer known for his work "The Spiritual Guide" and his opposition to the Church of England.
5. John Care (1576-1661), an English Puritan minister and author who was a prominent figure in the English Reformation.
While the CARE surname has been present in England for centuries, it has also been adopted by families in other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, as a result of migration and cultural exchange.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Care
Among Census respondents with the surname Care, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%) and Black (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Care bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Care surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.4%
- Hispanic or Latino3.2%
- Black or African American2.9%
- Two or more races1.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Care surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #31,790 | #31,790 | 0.0% |
| Count | 726 | 726 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Care bearers went from 726 to 726 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #31,790 to #31,790.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Care
FAQ
Care surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Care?
The surname Care holds position #31,790 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 857 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.25 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Care surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Care, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%) and Black (2.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.