| ![Show Contents]() Carnell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Cornwall, one of the original six "Celtic nations" is the homeland to the surname Carnell. A revival of the Cornish language which began in the 9th century AD has begun. No doubt this was the language spoken by distant forebears of the Carnell family. Though surnames became common during medieval times, English people were formerly known only by a single name. The way in which hereditary surnames were adopted in medieval England is fascinating. Many Cornish surnames appear to be topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees, many are actually habitation surnames. The name Carnell is a local type of surname and the Carnell family lived in the county of Cornwall in southwest England. Early Origins of the Carnell familyThe surname Carnell was first found in St. Stephens in Brannell, Cornwall. "The manor of Brannell was granted by King John to Richard Earl of Cornwall and king of the Romans. By Richard it was given to Richard de Cornubia, or Cornwall, his natural son by Joan de Valletort, widow of Sir Alexander Oakeston. William de Cornwall of Court in this parish, is mentioned by Prince as first prior of Bewley; and afterwards in 1272, abbot of Newham in Devon. He is represented as living to a great age, and as dying in the year 1320 blind and decrepid. Godfrey de Cornwall, a Carmelite friar who distinguished himself as the author of several learned works about the year 1300, is said to have been born at [the]Court [manor house]." 1 Some of the family emigrated to Ireland in the fourteenth century where the name was typically spelt Cornwalsh, Cornwalysch or Cornwallis. It is thought that the progenitor in Ireland was Sir John de Cornwall or Cornwaille, Constable of Carlow Castle who settled in the time of Edward III. From this family was find John le Cornwaleys of Dublin, an attorney listed in 1310 and James Cornwalsh (died 1441), an Irish judge who held the office of Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. He was murdered in a feud over the possession of Baggotrath Castle, near Dublin. Later, Sir John Cornwalsh, or Cornwalysch (died 1472) was an Irish judge who held the office of Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. He was probably born at Dunboyne in County Meath. Early History of the Carnell familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carnell research. Another 195 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1452, 1467, 1468, 1502, 1503, 1505, 1506, 1513, 1514, 1515, 1516, 1519, 1520, 1537, 1581, 1601, 1605, 1610, 1613, 1632, 1644, 1654, 1655, 1659, 1660, 1662, 1673, 1675, 1685, 1689, 1692, 1693, 1698, 1717, 1797 and 1842 are included under the topic Early Carnell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Carnell Spelling VariationsCornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Cornwall, Cornelle, Cornell, Cornwell, Cornewall, Cornal, Cornale, Cornevale, Carnwell, Carnewell, Carnville, Carnevale, Cornhall, Cornehall, Cornhale, Cornwale, Curnow (from native Cornish word) and many more. Early Notables of the Carnell familyNotable amongst the family at this time was Thomas Cornwall, High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1452 and 1467; Jane Cornwallis (1581-1659), an English lady whose private correspondence (1613-1644) were published in 1842, mother of Frederick Cornwallis; Thomas Cornwallis (c. 1605-1675), an English politician and colonial administrator, one of the first Commissioners of the Province of Maryland; Frederick Cornwallis, 1st Baron Cornwallis Bt KT (1610-1662), an English peer, MP and Privy Councillor; Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Baron Cornwallis of Eye (1632-1673), an English landowner...
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Carnell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Carnell RankingIn the United States, the name Carnell is the 10,117th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Carnell is ranked the 799th most popular surname with an estimated 51 people with that name. 3  Migration of the Carnell family to Ireland
Some of the Carnell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Carnell migration to the United States | + |
An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Carnell or a variant listed above:
Carnell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Mr. Christopher Carnell, (d. 1661/2) who left England and arrived in Maryland in 1634 aboard the ship "Ark and Dove" 4
- Daniel Carnell, who landed in Maryland in 1678 5
Carnell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Mary J. Carnell, aged 43, who immigrated to America, in 1895
- G. Stanley Carnell, aged 23, who landed in America, in 1896
- Wm. Carnell, aged 36, who settled in America, in 1897
Carnell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Herbert Carnell, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Hilgay, England, in 1908
- George Carnell, aged 35, who immigrated to America from Honeton, England, in 1909
- Hannah Carnell, aged 25, who landed in America from Hilgay, England, in 1910
- Alfred Carnell, aged 30, who landed in America from Hilgay, England, in 1910
- Mrs. Hannah Carnell, who landed in America, in 1910
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Carnell migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Carnell Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century- Liesa Carnell, aged 58, who immigrated to Carmenville, Newfoundland in 1908
- Ethel Carnell, aged 28, who landed in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1922
- Selby Carnell, aged 25, who immigrated to Fogo, Newfoundland in 1924
| Carnell migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Carnell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
| Carnell migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Carnell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- J. Carnell, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ulcoats" in 1864
| Contemporary Notables of the name Carnell (post 1700) | + |
- Edward John Carnell (1919-1967), American theologian, ordained Baptist pastor, President of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California
- Andrew Carnell (1877-1951), Newfoundland-born, Canadian politician
- Anne Katherine "Kate" Carnell AO (b. 1955), Australian politician, 3rd Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory (1995 to 2000)
- John Carnell (1912-1972), British science fiction editor
- Bradley Carnell (b. 1977), South African football defender
- Arthur Carnell (1862-1940), British gold medalist sport shooter at the 1908 London Olympics
- John Carnell Crosbie PC, OC, ONL, QC (1931-2020), Newfoundland-born, Canadian provincial and federal politician, 12th Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador (2008-2013), Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (1991-1993)
| Historic Events for the Carnell family | + |
Senghenydd colliery - Mr. John Fred Carnell (b. 1866), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: La Vie Durante
Motto Translation: During life.
- Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
- Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
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Carnell migration to the United States 
Carnell migration to Canada 
Carnell migration to Australia 
Carnell migration to New Zealand 
England
Ireland
