Carrey
A French surname derived from the word "carrière" meaning a quarry or quarryman.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Carrey. That puts it at #95,115 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Carrey 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
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#95,115
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
192
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 192 bearers of the surname Carrey in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 95115th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Carrey, the largest self-reported group is White at 75.0%. The next largest groups are Black (12.5%) and Hispanic (5.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Carrey
The surname Carrey originates from France and is believed to have derived from the Old French word "quarré," meaning "quarry" or "stone pit." The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 11th or 12th century, as a occupational surname for someone who worked in a quarry or lived near one.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Quarrier." This reference suggests that the name was already in use in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.
In the 13th century, the name was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, where it was recorded as "de Quarraria" in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. This latinized form further reinforces the connection to the word "quarry."
As time passed, the surname underwent various spelling variations, including Quarry, Quarrie, Quarrey, and eventually Carrey. These changes likely occurred due to regional dialect differences and the evolution of language over time.
Notable individuals with the surname Carrey include:
1. Sir John Carrey (c. 1520 - 1598), an English politician and landowner from Devon.
2. Benjamin Carrey (1756 - 1835), an American Baptist minister and educator who founded the first Baptist seminary in the United States.
3. James Carrey (born 1962), the acclaimed Canadian-American actor known for his comedic roles in films such as "Dumb and Dumber," "The Mask," and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."
4. Molly Carrey (1907 - 1987), an American artist and illustrator known for her children's book illustrations and commercial artwork.
5. William Carrey (1648 - 1720), an English navigator and explorer who surveyed the coasts of Australia and New Zealand in the late 17th century.
The surname Carrey has a rich history spanning centuries, originating from the French word for "quarry" and evolving through various spellings and regional variations. It has been borne by notable individuals in various fields, including politics, religion, art, and entertainment.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Carrey
Among Census respondents with the surname Carrey, the largest self-reported group is White at 75.0%. The next largest groups are Black (12.5%) and Hispanic (5.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Carrey 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 Carrey surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White75.0%
- Black or African American12.5%
- Hispanic or Latino5.2%
- Two or more races3.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Carrey 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 | #95,115 | #95,115 | 0.0% |
| Count | 192 | 192 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Carrey bearers went from 192 to 192 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #95,115 to #95,115.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Carrey
FAQ
Carrey surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Carrey?
The surname Carrey holds position #95,115 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Carrey surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Carrey, the largest self-reported group is White at 75.0%. The next largest groups are Black (12.5%) and Hispanic (5.2%). 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.