Find out how popular the last name Carmen is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Carmen.

Carmen, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Carmen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Carmen in America

Carmen is the 10193rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Carmen surname appeared 3,161 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Carmen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Carmen to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Carmen

The surname Carmen originated in Spain and is derived from the Spanish word "carmen," which means "song" or "poem." The name's roots can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when it was commonly used as a nickname or a descriptive surname for individuals associated with music or poetry.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Carmen can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries in Spain. One notable example is the mention of a certain Juan Carmen in a legal document from the city of Seville, dated 1298. This individual's name likely referred to his occupation or talent as a poet or singer.

During the Renaissance period, the surname Carmen gained prominence in literary circles across Spain. One of the most renowned figures bearing this name was Pedro del Carmen, a celebrated poet and playwright from Seville, born in 1472 and died in 1538. His works, including the acclaimed play "La Celestina," have had a lasting impact on Spanish literature.

In the 16th century, the surname Carmen also appeared in records related to the Spanish colonization of the Americas. For instance, historical accounts mention a certain Francisco Carmen, a conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico in the 1520s. This suggests that individuals with the surname Carmen played a role in the exploration and settlement of the New World.

As the Spanish language and culture spread throughout the Americas, the surname Carmen took root in various regions, particularly in Mexico and Central America. One notable figure was Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1651-1695), a renowned Mexican nun, poet, and scholar who is considered one of the greatest writers of the Spanish Golden Age.

Another prominent individual with the surname Carmen was José María Carmen, a Venezuelan military leader and politician who played a crucial role in the country's struggle for independence from Spain in the early 19th century. He served as the President of Venezuela from 1835 to 1836.

Throughout history, the surname Carmen has been associated with various fields, including literature, music, and the arts. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Spain, the name has since spread globally, reflecting the far-reaching influence of Spanish culture and language.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Carmen

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Carmen.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Carmen was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Carmen has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Carmen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Carmen, please contact us.

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