The Cara Family Name

Long before computers fixed spellings, Cara and Caro were used side by side. In origin, the name means “Dear, beloved”. Cara is listed among the recognised spellings of Caro. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard.

In Spain, the INE population register lists 2,513 people with Cara as their first surname and 2,357 as their second. Between 1891 and 2000, 654 babies born in France were registered as Cara, with the most births in 1961–1970.

Looking for a Cara coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours. For the full story, order the Cara surname pack.