Cartright History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Cartright is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a maker of carts, and wheels. The name has its origins in the Old English word craet, which means cart, and the Old English word wyrtha, which means wright or maker, thereby denoting one who was the maker of carts or wagons. 1

The name could also have been "from Cauterêts; a location name in Normandy Cateray in Roll of Battell Abbey. De Ceterith, a tenant in chief in the Domesday Book. " 2

Another source notes the family is "armorially identified with Cateryke, or Catherick (Robson). Catherick was part of the demesne of the Earls of Richmond, and the surname therefore probably arose from tenure of the office of Seneschal by a branch of a neighbouring family. The arms (a fesse) are those of the adjoining family of De Smythton or Eschalers, with three cinquefoils for difference, which were afterwards corrupted into ‘roses', 'Catherine wheels', and ‘fire-balls with rays.’ Of this family Ilbert de Catherege, or Catherage (a form of Catheric), occurs in Normandy, 1180-98 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae); which shows the Norman origin of the family. A branch long remained at Stanwick, in Richmondshire, close to Catterick. Another branch was seated in Notts, and one in Cambridge; and the name there changed from Cateryke to Cartwright." 3

Early Origins of the Cartright family

The surname Cartright was first found in Yorkshire where early rolls listed the name as a profession and a surname. The Poll Tax of Howdenshire (East Riding of Yorkshire) listed Robert le Cartwright. B. Johannes Toppe, cartwryght. In the same year the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls listed: Magota Cartwryght; Henriciis Wryght, catrwryght (sic); Johannes Warde, cartwright; Johannes Percivale, cartwryght and Geoffrey Cartewirght. 4

Early History of the Cartright family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cartright research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1535, 1602, 1603, 1611, 1634, 1635, 1643, 1658, 1659, 1661, 1676, 1686, 1689, 1703 and 1755 are included under the topic Early Cartright History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cartright Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Cartright include Cartwright, Cartright, Cartwrite, Carthright, Kartwright, Kartright, Cartrite, Kartwrite, Chartwright, Cartrite, Catherick, Cartrait, Cartray, Ceterith, Cateray, Cautheret, Carterwright, Carterright, Carterrite, Chartright, Chartwright, Cardwright and many more.

Early Notables of the Cartright family

Notables of the family at this time include Thomas Cartwright (1535-1603), described by Strype (Annals, ii. i. c. 1) as 'the head and most learned of that sect of dissenters then called Puritans,' was a native of Hertfordshire, but his place of birth is not recorded." 5 Christopher Cartwright (1602-1658), was an English divine, born in the parish of St. Michael-le-Belfry, York. He was a Hebraist and used targums in Biblical exegesis, following the lead of Henry Ainsworth with John Weemes. 5 William Cartwright (1634-1676), was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1659; Thomas Cartwright (1634-1689), was an...
Another 140 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cartright Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cartright 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:

Cartright Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Dr. C. W. Cartright, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Soukar" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Cartright (post 1700) +

L. F. Cartright, American politician, Candidate for West Virginia State Senate 11th District, 1914

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print