Show ContentsCarroway History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Carroway first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived on a road near a field or piece of land that was triangular in shape. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English words gara, meaning "triangular piece of land," and weg, meaning "path" or "road."

Early Origins of the Carroway family

The surname Carroway was first found in Herefordshire at Garway, a parish, in the union of Monmouth, Lower division of the hundred of Wormelow. 1 2

One of the first records of the family was Walter de Garewy who was listed there in 1228. A few years later, William and Walter Garwy were listed in Essex in 1236 and later in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1327. John Gorewy was listed in the Assize Rolls for Kent in 1317. 3

Early History of the Carroway family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carroway research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1575, 1595, 1617, 1639, 1646, 1661, 1679, 1681, 1685, 1689 and 1701 are included under the topic Early Carroway History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carroway Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Carroway has appeared include Garroway, Garreway, Carroway, Garraway, Carraway and others.

Early Notables of the Carroway family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Henry Garraway (1575-1646), an English merchant in London, member of the Worshipful Company of Drapers, Lord Mayor of London in 1639. He was the son of Sir William Garraway, Chief Farmer of the Customs, and his wife, Elizabeth Anderton, was baptised in London at the church of St. Peter-le-Poer, Broad Street, 17 April 1575. He was one of seventeen...
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Carroway Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Carroway family to Ireland

Some of the Carroway 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 Carroway migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Carroway arrived in North America very early:

Carroway Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Joan Carroway and her husband John, who settled in Virginia in 1635
  • Roger Carroway, who settled in Nevis in 1654 along with his brother William


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  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. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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