Origin of the surname Carey

There are, unusually, four distinct origins for this name, found as "Cary", "Carey" and "Carye". The first of these is of Welsh and Cornish origin, as a variant of the locational name "Carew", from any of the minor places named from the Welsh "caer" fort, and "rhiw", hill. The Carey family who have held the estate of Antony in Cornwall throughout the Middle Ages derive their name from this source. The second possible origin is English and also locational, from any of the places in Devon and Somerset so called from being situated on the River Cary, thought to be so named from the Celtic root-word "Car", meaning "love", "liking" - so, perhaps, "pleasant stream".

The third source is French, and another locational name, from the manor of "Carrey", near Lisieux, Normandy. The marriage of "Henry Crey" and "Ann Morgan" is recorded in London in 1545. Finally, Carey is an Anglicized form of the old Gaelic O' Ciardha, the Gaelic prefix "O" indicating "male descendant of", plus the personal byname Ciardha from "ciar" dark or black. The Careys were lords of Carbury (Co. Kildare), up to the mid 12th Century. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hamo de Kan, which was dated 1205 "Pleas before the King or his Justices", Somerset, during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Carey. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Research into the possible origins of carey leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname carey is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of carey.

The surname Carey around the world

There is a considerable probability that carey has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where carey is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname carey provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.

History of Carey

The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named carey are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname carey, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of carey developed. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname carey.

It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of carey could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about carey and send it to us, we will update it on this website.

Notable Figures Named Carey

We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname carey, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname carey were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. If you or someone you know bears the surname carey, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname carey who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.

The surname Carey and its bibliographic sources

The bibliography collects information related to the surname carey, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of carey are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of carey.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of carey, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Carey