Carew
A locational surname derived from any of several places in Wales, England, or France named Carew or Carrue.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,811 Americans carry the last name Carew. That puts it at #12,817 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.82 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 121,933 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Carew 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
2.8K
1 in 121,933
Census rank
#12,817
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,406 bearers of the surname Carew in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.82 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12817th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Carew, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.4%. The next largest groups are Black (14.6%) and Two or More Races (3.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Carew
The surname Carew has its origins in the ancient Celtic Briton culture, tracing back to the 6th century. It is believed to have derived from the Welsh place name "Carew" or "Carien," meaning "fort" or "stronghold." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name likely hailed from or were associated with a fortified settlement or castle.
The name Carew first appeared in records during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This indicates that the Carew family had established a presence in England by that time.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Carew was Sir Nicholas de Carew, who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. He served as a knight and was granted lands in Carew Castle, Pembrokeshire, Wales, by King John in 1207. This castle and its surrounding lands became the ancestral seat of the Carew family for several centuries.
Another notable figure in the history of the Carew name was Sir John Carew (c. 1345 - c. 1405), a prominent military leader during the Hundred Years' War. He fought alongside the Black Prince at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 and later served as a commander in the English army during the reign of King Richard II.
In the 16th century, Sir Peter Carew (1514 - 1575) gained prominence as a military commander and explorer. He led expeditions to explore the Spanish Main and the West Indies, and played a significant role in the establishment of English settlements in the New World.
The Carew family continued to hold influential positions in England and Wales throughout the centuries. One notable figure was Sir George Carew (1555 - 1629), who served as Lord President of Munster in Ireland and played a crucial role in suppressing the Nine Years' War against Irish rebels.
Another distinguished member of the Carew family was Thomas Carew (1595 - 1639), a renowned English poet and courtier during the Baroque era. He was known for his mastery of lyric poetry and his contributions to the development of English literature.
Over time, the Carew surname has seen various spellings, including Carrew, Carreu, Carewe, and Caru. However, the modern spelling of "Carew" has become the most widely accepted form. The name has also been associated with several place names, such as Carew Castle in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and Carew Manor in Beddington, Surrey, England.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Carew
Among Census respondents with the surname Carew, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.4%. The next largest groups are Black (14.6%) and Two or More Races (3.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Carew 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 Carew surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White77.4%
- Black or African American14.6%
- Two or more races3.2%
- Hispanic or Latino3.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Carew 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 | #12,817 | #12,817 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,406 | 2,406 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.82 | 0.82 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Carew bearers went from 2,406 to 2,406 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #12,817 to #12,817.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Carew
FAQ
Carew surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Carew?
The surname Carew holds position #12,817 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,811 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.82 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Carew surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Carew, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.4%. The next largest groups are Black (14.6%) and Two or More Races (3.2%). 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.