Show ContentsCarrick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Among the clans of the Scottish/English Borderlands, the Strathclyde Britons were the first to use the name Carrick. It is derived from the personal name Craig. Thus, Carrick is a patronymic name, taken from the given name of the father or some other ancestor of the bearer. However, Carrick may also be of local origin, referring to those who lived in or near the place called Carrick in Ayrshire. 1

The name could have also been derived from the Gaelic, "carraig" meaning "rock." 2

Early Origins of the Carrick family

The surname Carrick was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, and were known as 'the men of Carrick'.

Duncan de Carrick (died 1250) was made the Mormaer (Earl) of Carrick by Scottish King Alexander I in 1186. He was a direct ancestor Robert the Bruce (Robert I), King of the Scots 1274-1329. Mestre Duncan de Carrike of county of Berewyke rendered homage to King Edward I of England in 1296. 1

Early History of the Carrick family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carrick research. Another 252 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1224, 1296, 1320, 1360, 1370, 1371, 1372, 1380, 1429, 1554, 1606, 1665, 1716, 1717, 1779 and 1820 are included under the topic Early Carrick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carrick Spelling Variations

The origin of rules governing the spelling of names and even words is a very recent innovation. Before that, words and names were spelled according to sound, and, therefore, often appeared under several different spelling variations in a single document. Carrick has been spelled Carrick, Carick, Carich, Carrich, Karryck, Karrik, Karrick, Kerrich, Kerrick, Carrig, Carrigy, McCarrigy and many more.

Early Notables of the Carrick family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • John de Carrick (died c. 1380), a native of Carrick, Scotland, Chancellor of Scotland and Bishop-elect of Dunkeld (1370-1371.)

Carrick Ranking

In the United States, the name Carrick is the 11,579th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Ireland Migration of the Carrick family to Ireland

Some of the Carrick family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Carrick migration to the United States +

The persecution faced in their homeland left many Scots with little to do but sail for the colonies of North America. There they found land, freedom, opportunity, and nations in the making. They fought for their freedom in the American War of Independence, or traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In both cases, they made enormous contributions to the formation of those great nations. Among them:

Carrick Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Richard Carrick, who arrived in Virginia in 1650
  • Rich Carrick, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 4
  • Roger Carrick, who settled in Virginia in 1672
Carrick Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Carrick, who arrived in Boston in 1747
  • Christian Carrick, a bonded passenger, who settled in America in 1758
  • John Carrick, who settled in New York in 1775
  • Daniel Carrick, who arrived in Baltimore in 1797
Carrick Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Alexander Carrick, who settled in America in 1807
  • Alexander Carrick, who landed in New York in 1822 4
  • Robert Carrick, who landed in New York in 1822 4
  • James, Anthony, Cunningham, Robert, Thomas, and William Carrick, who all, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1865
  • James Carrick, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1870 4

Canada Carrick migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Carrick Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Charles Carrick U.E. who settled in Digdeguash, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 served as part of the 74th Regiment 5
Carrick Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Carrick, aged 4 Years and 6 months who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Champion" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 6

Australia Carrick migration to Australia +

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

Carrick Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Carrick, a carpenter, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • James Carrick, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Competitor" in 1847 7
  • William Carrick, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Competitor" in 1847 7
  • David Carrick, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Competitor" in 1847 7
  • Benjamin Carrick, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Competitor" in 1847 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Carrick 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:

Carrick Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Robert Carrick, aged 14, a labourer, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
  • Mr. W. Carrick, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "James Nicol Fleming" arriving in Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand on 26th October 1870 8
  • Mr. Henry Carrick , (b. 1858), aged 16, Scottish clerk, from Lanark travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 31st December 1874 8
  • Mr. Carrick, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Parsee" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1874 9
  • Edwin Carrick, aged 19, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tongariro" in 1888

Contemporary Notables of the name Carrick (post 1700) +

  • William Martin Carrick (1873-1932), nicknamed "Doughnut Bill", an American pitcher in Major League Baseball
  • James Stewart Carrick (1855-1923), Scottish rugby union and cricket player
  • William Carrick (1827-1878), Scottish-Russian artist and photographer
  • Alexander Carrick, leading Scottish monumental sculptor
  • William Francis "Willie" Carrick (1952-2023), Irish footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Luton Town
  • John Mulcaster Carrick (1833-1896), British painter, etcher and illustrator. He painted in the Pre-Raphaelite style from Carlisle
  • Sir John Leslie Carrick (1918-2018), Australian politician, Leader of the Government in the Senate (1978-1983), Minister for National Development and Energy (1979-1983), Minister for Education (1975-1979), Minister for Urban and Regional Development in 1975
  • Ethel Carrick (1872-1951), Australian wife of painter Emanuel Phillips Fox and a major artist in her own right
  • Patricia Frances Carrick (b. 1941), former New Zealand international cricketer
  • Lewis Carrick (b. 1806), English cricketer
  • ... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Carrick 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: Garde bien
Motto Translation: Watch well.


Suggested Readings for the name Carrick +

  • Carrick/Karrick Genealogy by Bett M. Mann.

  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)
  5. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  6. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 17)
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) COMPETITOR 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Competitor.gif
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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