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Carolina Family History

Carolina Name Meaning

African American: probably an adoption of the name of the US states as a surname (compare Maryland 2 and Missouri ); however compare also West Indian name in 2 below. The Carolinas (i.e. North Carolina and South Carolina) at that time a British colony received their name (originally Carolana) in honor of the king Charles I of England who in 1629 granted a patent for the lands south of 36 degrees and north of 31 degrees. West Indian (Dutch Caribbean): from the female personal name Carolina feminine form of Carolus . It is one of the surnames (compare Martina ) that reflect the partially mother-oriented name culture of the formerly enslaved people in the West Indies.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Carling, Catalina, Carlin, Carolan, Parola, Marina, Cortina, Carlino

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Where is the Carolina family from?

You can see how Carolina families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Carolina family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Carolina families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2 Carolina families living in London. This was about 50% of all the recorded Carolina's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Carolina families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Carolina surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Carolina ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Carolina. 53% of Carolina men worked as a Laborer and 30% of Carolina women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Carolina were Farm Laborer and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Carolina | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    53%
  • Farmer
    20%
  • Porter
    9%
  • Farm Laborer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    30%
  • Laborer
    30%
  • Cook
    13%
  • Housekeeper
    13%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Carolina family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Carolina. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Carolina census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Carolina

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Carolina. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Carolina immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Carolina. For the veterans among your Carolina ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Carolina military records

You've only scratched the surface of Carolina family history

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What is the average Carolina lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Carolina life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1962, and highest in 1996. The average life expectancy for Carolina in 1951 was 52, and 70 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Carolina

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