Contents [hide]

Carr History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Carr History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

The well known Carr surname has long existed in Ireland, and originates from several distinct sources. In County Galway it was an Anglicization of Ó Carra, a patronymic name referring to a descendant of Carra; the word Carra in turn meant "spear." in County Donegal, Carr was the Anglicized form of Mac Giolla Chathair. Many who bear the Carr name in Ireland are descendents of emigrants of Scottish or English stock, who brought the name with them. In Ireland, many bearers changed their name over time from Kerrane or Kerr to Carr. In turn the name Carr in Ireland has in some instance morphed into Carey.

Early Origins of the Carr family

The surname Carr was first found in Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn), where in 1095, the annals of Loch Cé list the death of Muirchertach Ua Cairre, "steward of Cenél Aengusa and royal heir of Oilech.".

Early History of the Carr family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carr research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1260, 1779, 1849 and 1866 are included under the topic Early Carr History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carr Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Carr, Kerr, O'Carr, O'Carry, MacCarry, Kerrane and many more.

Early Notables of the Carr family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

Sir George Carr clerk of the council of Munster
Reverend George Whitmore Carr (1779-1849) was an early advocate of temperance in Ireland

Carr World Ranking

In the United States, the name Carr is the 205^th most popular surname with an estimated 126,837 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Carr is ranked the 437^th most popular surname with an estimated 10,800 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Carr is the 227^th popular surname with an estimated 14,912 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Carr as 226^th with 2,554 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Carr as 161^st with 33,307 people. 5

Carr migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Carr Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

George Carr, who landed in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1633 6
Caleb Carr (1624-1695), aged 11, who arrived in America in 1635 aboard the ship Elizabeth and Anne; he rose to become the 16th Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in 1695 6
Rich Carr, aged 29, who landed in America in 1635 6
Richard Carr, aged 29, British settler who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Abigail" 6
Mr. Robert Carr, (b. 1614), aged 21, British tailor travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Elizabeth and Anne" arriving in Massachusetts Bay (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire) in 1635 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carr Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Catherine Carr, who landed in Virginia in 1702 6
Thomas Carr, who landed in Virginia in 1713 6
John Carr, who settled in Virginia in 1716
Conrad Carr, who arrived in North Carolina in 1764 6
Michael Carr, who arrived in America in 1764 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carr Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Dennis Carr, aged 22, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 6
Jos Carr, who landed in America in 1805 6
John Carr, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1806 6
Charles Carr, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 6
Alexander Carr, who landed in America in 1811 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carr Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Christian Carr, who landed in Arkansas in 1904 6

Carr migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Carr Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Carr at St. John's, Newfoundland in the late 1700's 8
Henry Carr, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Nicholas Carr, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Eliza Carr, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mrs. Carr, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carr Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Carr, who landed in Prince Edward Island in 1817
Bridget Carr, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1823
David Carr, who landed in Canada in 1830
Eliza Carr, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1833
William Carr, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Ugoni" from Belfast, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carr Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Miss M Carr, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Carr migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Carr Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. William Carr, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9

Carr Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Jane Carr, (b. 1769), aged 31, English house maid who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1849 10
Mr. Peter Carr, Irish convict who was convicted in Dundalk, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. William Carr, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Miss Anne Carr, (Hinchley), Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 21st January 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. John Carr, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carr 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:

Carr Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Henry Carr, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842
Dr. Carr, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Berhampore" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th June 1849 15
Mrs. Carr, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Berhampore" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th June 1849 15
Mr. Carr, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship "Tornado" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th September 1859 16
Mrs. Carr, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship "Tornado" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th September 1859 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carr migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 17

Carr Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Andrew Carr, (b. 1612), aged 23, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 18

Contemporary Notables of the name Carr (post 1700) +

William Curtis Carr III (1945-2024), American college football player, coach, and athletics administrator
Charles Lee Glenn Carr Jr. (1967-2022), American Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1990 to 1997
Colonel Gerald Paul Carr (1932-2020), American mechanical and aeronautical engineer, United States Marine Corps officer, naval aviator, and NASA astronaut, Commander of Skylab 4
Jesse Willard "Pete" Carr (1950-2020), American guitarist, known for his work with Bob Seger, Joe Cocker, Boz Scaggs, Paul Simon, The Staple Singers, Rod Stewart, Barbra Streisand, and many more
Fred Alton Carr (1946-2018), American NFL football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers (1968-1977), inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
Charmian Carr (1942-2016), born Charmian Anne Farnon, an American actress and singer best known for her role as Liesl, in the 1965 film version of The Sound of Music
David Michael Carr (1956-2015), American writer, columnist, and author for the New York Times
Brigadier-General Lawrence Joseph Carr (1899-1972), American Commanding General 7th Bomber Command (1944-1945) 19
Catherine Carr (b. 1954), American Olympic Swimmer, recipient of two gold medals in 1972 Olympic Games
Archie Fairly Carr KCVO (1909-1987), American herpetologist, ecologist and a pioneering conservationist
... (Another 184 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Carr family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Mrs. Margaret Bell Carr (1915-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Whangarei, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 20

Halifax Explosion

Master George Carr (1910-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
Mrs. Mary Carr (1872-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
Mr. Ernest Allen Phipps Carr (1885-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 21

Hillcrest Coal Mine

Mr. Henry Carr (1872-1914), English Miner from Farnworth& Kearsley, Lancashire,, England, United Kingdom who worked in the Hillcrest Coal Mine, Alberta, Canada and died in the mine collapse 22

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. John William Aaron Carr (1917-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Manly, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 23

HMS Hood

Mr. John Carr (b. 1917), English Stoker 2nd Class serving for the Royal Navy from Trimdon Grange, County Durham, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 24

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Jack Carr, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 25

HMS Royal Oak

Frank Cuthbert Carr (d. 1939), British Steward with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 26

RMS Titanic

Mr. Richard Stephen Carr (d. 1912), aged 37, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 27
Miss Jane Carr (d. 1912), aged 47, Irish Third Class passenger from Aclare, Sligo who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 27

Senghenydd colliery

Mr. Peter Carr (b. 1868), 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 Carr Motto +

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: Fida Clavo
Motto Translation: Sure and Nail

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 24th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd June 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) Lawrence Carr. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Carr/Lawrence_Joseph/USA.html
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
List Of Miners - Hillcrest Mine Disaster Data. (Retrieved 2014, June 24) . Retrieved from http://www.hillcrestminedisaster.com/data/index.php?title=List_Of_Miners
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html