2000
#144,908
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Caria
Place name from ancient Caria region in Anatolia.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 124 Americans carry the last name Caria. That puts it at #150,935 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,764,148 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Caria surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
124
1 in 2,764,148
Census rank
#150,935
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
108
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 108 bearers of the surname Caria in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150935th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Caria, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (17.6%) and Black (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Caria
The surname Caria is of Italian origin, with its roots traced back to the region of Tuscany during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "carus," which means "dear" or "beloved." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone who was highly regarded or cherished within their community.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Caria can be found in the Florentine Priorista, a historical document detailing the names of the elected officials in Florence from 1282 to 1532. This document mentions a certain Bindo di Caria, who served as a Prior in the year 1352, indicating that the name was already in use during the 14th century.
In the 15th century, the name appears in the records of the Catasto, a detailed census and tax survey conducted in the Republic of Florence between 1427 and 1480. This survey includes several households bearing the surname Caria, providing valuable insights into the geographic distribution and social status of the name during that period.
A notable figure associated with the name Caria is Giovanni Caria, a renowned Florentine sculptor and architect who lived from 1457 to 1535. He is best known for his contributions to the design and construction of the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, as well as his intricate sculptural works adorning various churches and public buildings throughout the city.
Another individual of historical significance is Tommaso Caria, a Venetian merchant and trader who lived during the 16th century. Records indicate that he played a significant role in the flourishing trade between Venice and the Ottoman Empire, establishing commercial routes and fostering economic ties between the two powers.
In the 17th century, the name Caria is linked to Girolamo Caria, a renowned Italian painter and fresco artist who was active in Rome and Naples. His works can be found adorning the walls and ceilings of several churches and palaces, showcasing his mastery of the fresco technique and his ability to capture the grandeur of religious and mythological scenes.
Moving into the 18th century, the name Caria gained prominence in the field of medicine with the contributions of Antonio Caria, a physician and botanist from Padua. He is credited with publishing several influential treatises on the medicinal properties of plants and their applications in the treatment of various ailments.
As the centuries progressed, the surname Caria continued to be represented across various fields, from academia to arts and literature. However, it is important to note that historical records and documentation from earlier periods may be incomplete or subject to varying degrees of accuracy, leaving room for further exploration and research into the origins and evolution of this fascinating surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Caria
Among Census respondents with the surname Caria, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (17.6%) and Black (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Caria bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Caria surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White78.7% · 85
- Hispanic or Latino17.6% · 19
- Black or African American1.9% · 2
- Two or more races1.9% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Caria
Caria appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#140,157
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
+14 bearers (+13.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 4,751 places
2020
#150,935
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
-11 bearers (-9.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 10,778 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #144,908 | 105 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #140,157 | 119 | 0.04 | +14 bearers (+13.3%) | Up 4,751 places |
| 2020 | #150,935 | 108 | 0.04 | -11 bearers (-9.2%) | Down 10,778 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Caria surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #140,157 | #150,935 | -7.7% |
| Count | 119 | 108 | -9.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -9.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Caria bearers went from 119 to 108 (-9.2% change). The surname moved down 10,778 positions in the national ranking, going from #140,157 to #150,935.
FAQ
Caria surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Caria?
Name Census estimates that about 124 living Americans carry the surname Caria. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,764,148 residents.
How common is Caria?
Caria ranks #150,935 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 108 people with the surname Caria. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (124), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Caria.
Has Caria become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Caria went from 119 recorded bearers to 108. That is a decrease of 11 (-9.2%). In the national ranking it fell from #140,157 to #150,935.
What does the Census say about the background of Caria?
Among Census respondents with the surname Caria, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (17.6%) and Black (1.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Caria in the 2020 Census, accounting for 78.7% (85 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Caria appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (78.7%), Hispanic (17.6%), Black (1.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Caria (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Caria mean?
Place name from ancient Caria region in Anatolia. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Caria (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Caria?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.