Show ContentsCarrington History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Carrington name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived at Carenton, a port town, and Chateau in Normandy. [1] It is thought that the first of the name in Britain was Norman Hamo de Carenton of Normandy, who came to Britain as a young attendant to his uncle at Hastings in 1066 A.D., and was rewarded for his services by grants of land in county of Chester.

Carrington, or Primrose is a parish in Edinburghshire, Scotland containing with the villages of Thornton and Whitefaugh and Carrington. [2]

Early Origins of the Carrington family

The surname Carrington was first found in Cheshire at Carrington, a township and chapelry, in the parish of Bowdon, union of Altrincham, hundred of Bucklow. "The manor was held for more than three centuries by a family of the same name." [3]

"A moiety of the manor [at Ashton upon Mersey] was held for many generations by the Carringtons, and passed by a female heir of that family to the Booths." [3]

There are two other places named Carrington in Britain: in Lincolnshire which was "first recorded in 1812, and named after Robert Smith, Lord Carrington (1752-1838), who had lands there"; [4] and in Nottinghamshire where "this village, which is of recent origin, consists partly of handsome villas, occupied by merchants and lace manufacturers, who have warehouses in Nottingham." [3]

Now part of Greater Manchester, Carrington dates back to the 12th century when it was first listed as Carrintona and possibly meant "estate associated with a man called Cara," from the Old English personal name + "-ing" + "tun." [4]

Some of the first record of the family include: Thomas de Karington who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1219; and John de Carrington found in the Assize Rolls for Cheshire in 1294. [5]

In Scotland, the name came from the "lands of Carrington in East Lothian. Wautier de Keringtone, parson of the church of Dunnotre, rendered homage in 1296 [to King Edward I of England]." [6]

Early History of the Carrington family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carrington research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1219, 1294, 1296, 1796 and 1868 are included under the topic Early Carrington History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carrington Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Carrington were recorded, including Carrington, Carington, Kerrington, Karrington, Kerington, Carinton and many more.

Early Notables of the Carrington family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Sir Michael Carrington, Standard Bearer...
  • Robert John Carrington, 2nd Baron Carrington, FRS (1796-1868), assumed the name Carrington by Royal Licence...
  • His descendants continued using the name Carrington...

Carrington Ranking

In the United States, the name Carrington is the 2,272nd most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. [7]


United States Carrington migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Carrington family emigrate to North America:

Carrington Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edward Carrington, who arrived in Boston Massachusetts in 1632 aboard the ship "Lyon"
  • Thomas Carrington, who landed in New England in 1632 [8]
  • Mary Carrington, aged 33, who landed in New England in 1635 [8]
  • Jo Carrington, aged 33, who arrived in New England in 1635 [8]
  • Edward Carrington, who landed in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1636 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Carrington Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Tho Carrington, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 [8]
  • Isaac Carrington, who landed in Virginia in 1717 [8]
  • George Carrington, who arrived in Virginia in 1723 [8]
  • Daniel Carrington, who arrived in America in 1760-1763 [8]
Carrington Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Edward Douglass Carrington, aged 23, who landed in Maryland in 1812 [8]
  • James Carrington, aged 37, who arrived in Maryland in 1812 [8]
  • J Carrington, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [8]
  • Miss E. A. Carrington, (b. 1847), aged 21, Barbadian settler traveling aboard the ship "Golden Fleece" arriving in New York in 1868 [9]
  • Mr. J. B. Carrington, (b. 1812), aged 56, Saint Helenian editor traveling aboard the ship "Golden Fleece" arriving in New York in 1868 [9]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Carrington migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Carrington Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Abram Carrington, who landed in New Brunswick in 1783
  • Mr. Abraham Carrington U.E. born in Milford, Connecticut, USA who settled in Kingston, Kings County, New Brunswick c. 1783 listed as passenger on the Union Transport from New York [10]
  • Mr. Abraham Carrington U.E. born in Milford, Connecticut, USA who settled in Canada c. 1783 listed as passenger on the Union Transport from New York [10]
  • Mr. James Carrington U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 [10]
Carrington Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • J Carrington, who landed in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

Australia Carrington migration to Australia +

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

Carrington Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Carrington, English convict from Chester, who was transported aboard the "Adamant" on March 16, 1821, settling in New South Wales, Australia [11]
  • Mr. Thomas Carrington, (b. 1798), aged 33, English ploughman who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [12]
  • Mr. Thomas Carrington, English convict who was convicted in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 14th October 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [13]
  • Mr. William Carrington, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 27th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [14]

New Zealand Carrington 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:

Carrington Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • F A Carrington, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship London
  • Wellington Carrington, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Cuba
  • Wellington Carrington, aged 25, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cuba" in 1840
  • Frederick Alonzo Carrington, aged 33, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • Octavius Carrington, who landed in Taranaki, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Stains Castle
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Carrington (post 1700) +

  • Walter C. Carrington (1930-2020), American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Senegal (1980-1981) and Nigeria (1993-1997)
  • Deborah "Debbie" Lee Carrington (1959-2018), American actress and stuntwoman, known for her work on Total Recall (1990), Men in Black (1997) and She's All That (1999)
  • Edward Carrington (1748-1810), American soldier and statesman, a lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army, serving as quartermaster to General Nathanael Greene’s southern campaign
  • Darren Carrington (b. 1966), American NFL football safety who played from 1989 to 1996
  • Robert Frederick "Bob" Carrington (b. 1953), retired American professional NBA basketball player
  • Albert Carrington (1813-1889), American apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • Fitzroy Carrington (1869-1954), English-born, American editor of The Print Collector’s Quarterly from 1911 to 1917
  • Chuck Carrington (b. 1968), American film and television actor, best known for playing Petty Officer Jason Tiner on JAG
  • Brigadier-General Gordon De L. Carrington (1894-1944), American Commanding Officer 62nd Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade (1943-1944) [15]
  • Terri Lyne Carrington (b. 1965), American jazz drummer, composer, and record producer
  • ... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. A G Carrington, British Sub Lieutenant, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking [16]


Suggested Readings for the name Carrington +

  • A Brief Historical Sketch of the Carrington Family by John Claiborne Carrington.

  1. 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)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. 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)
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. 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)
  9. Barbados archives retrieved 27th October 2021 from https://atthebarbadosarchives.wordpress.com/2003/07/18/barbados-heritage-passenger-lists-and-barbados-departures/
  10. 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
  11. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Adamant voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1821 with 144 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adamant/1821
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  15. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) Gordon Carrington. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Carrington/Gordon_De_L./USA.html
  16. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html


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