Explore the Family Name Carolina
The meaning of Carolina
1. 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. 2. 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. Some characteristic forenames: French Andre.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Carolina in the United States?
According to the data culled from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Carolina has seen a significant rise in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked as the 25,329th most popular name in the United States, but by 2010, it had risen to the 22,733rd spot – an increase of over 10%. The total count of individuals with this surname also increased from 918 to 1,127 during this period, a growth of roughly 23%. Moreover, its proportion per 100,000 people also increased by around 12%, moving from 0.34 to 0.38.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,329 | #22,733 | 10.25% |
| Count | 918 | 1,127 | 22.77% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.34 | 0.38 | 11.76% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Carolina
In terms of ethnicity, the decennial U.S. Census data indicates some shifts among those bearing the Carolina surname. In 2000, there were no recorded instances of this surname within the Asian/Pacific Islander demographic, but by 2010, this group accounted for 10.2% of all Carolinas. Meanwhile, the percentage of those identifying as two or more races dropped to zero in the same period. There was a slight increase in those identifying as white, growing by half a percent to 10.29%. The Hispanic demographic decreased slightly by about 4%, while the black community saw a decrease of about 11% from 69.83% to 62.02%. The American Indian and Alaskan Native demographic did not have any reported instances of the Carolina surname in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 69.83% | 62.02% | -11.18% |
| Hispanic | 13.83% | 13.22% | -4.41% |
| White | 10.24% | 10.29% | 0.49% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 10.2% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 3.49% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |