Show ContentsCarter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Carter Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Carter

What does the name Carter mean?

The history of the Carter family begins with those Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain from whom the name springs. The surname Carter is thought to be derived from the Old English "craet," or the Old Norse "kartr," both meaning "cart," and was most likely first borne either by someone who built carts or by a transporter of goods. Alternatively, the name may be derived from the Old English "carda" or "carterius" meaning "guard."

Early Origins of the Carter family

The surname Carter was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where Jocius Caretarius, Oxfordshire; Juliana le Cartere, Cambridgeshire; Nicholas le Carter, Oxfordshire; John le Cartere, Norfolk; Robert le Caretter, Huntingdonshire; and Margaret le Careter, Huntingdonshire were all listed, some still in their Latin form of the name. 1

The name is "well distributed over England. It is best represented in Cheshire and Essex, and afterwards in Cambridgeshire, Devon, and Sussex." 2

By the 15th and 16th centuries, the family was also found in Scotland. "James Cartare witness in Edinburgh, 1439. Hob Carter was a tenant on lands of the Abbey of Kelso, 1567." 3

Early History of the Carter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carter research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1250 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Carter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carter Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Carter, Carters and others.

Early Notables of the Carter family

  • William Carter of Eccleshall Castle

Carter World Ranking

the United States, the name Carter is the 40th most popular surname with an estimated 402,894 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Carter is ranked the 156th most popular surname with an estimated 22,153 people with that name. 5 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Carter is the 171st popular surname with an estimated 232 people with that name. 6 Australia ranks Carter as 78th with 31,209 people. 7 New Zealand ranks Carter as 64th with 4,990 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Carter as 64th with 71,127 people. 9

Migration of the Carter family to Ireland

Some of the Carter family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carter migration to the United States +



Carter Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Robert Carter, (d. 1621), who arrived in Plymouth in 1620 aboard the ship "Mayflower" 11
  • Rosamus Carter, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship "George" 11
  • John Carter, who arrived in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship "Prosperous"
  • Miss Hilary Carter, (b. 1608), aged 27, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Elizabeth and Anne" arriving in Massachusetts Bay (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire) in 1635 12
  • Mr. John Carter, (b. 1613), aged 22, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Safety" arriving in Virginia in 1635 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Carter Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Him Carter, who landed in Virginia in 1703 14
  • Eliza Carter, who arrived in Virginia in 1724 14
  • Charles Carter, who arrived in Mississippi in 1798 14
  • Benjamin Carter, who landed in Mississippi in 1799 14
Carter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Andrew Carter, who landed in America in 1818 14
  • Mr. Carter, who landed in Mobile Ala in 1821 14
  • Edith Ann Carter, who arrived in Baltimore in 1826
  • Mr. John Carter, (b. 1808), aged 28, Cornish miner departing from Falmouth aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 11th May 1836 15
  • Mr. Henry Carter, (b. 1816), aged 20, Cornish settler departing from Falmouth aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 11th May 1836 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Carter Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Stephen Carter, (b. 1875), aged 25, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Majestic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 25th July 1900 en route to Red Jacket, Michigan, USA 16
  • Mr. Charles Carter, (b. 1815), aged 88, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Cedric" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 5th September 1903 en route to Plymouth, Pennsylvania, USA 16
  • Mr. James Carter, (b. 1876), aged 27, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 6th June 1903 en route to Hill City, South Dakota, USA 16
  • Mr. Samuel Carter, (b. 1875), aged 28, Cornish engine fitter travelling aboard the ship "Cedric" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 21st March 1903 en route to Colfax, California, USA 16
  • Mr. Thomas Carter, (b. 1848), aged 55, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Cedric" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 5th September 1903 en route to Plymouth, Pennsylvania, USA 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carter migration to Canada +

Carter Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Chris Carter, who immigrated to St. John's, Newfoundland in 1705 17
  • Davd Jonathn Carter, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Charles Carter, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Ann Carter, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Eliz Carter, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Carter Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Timothy Carter, aged 29, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Lord Goderich" from London, England
  • Mary Carter, aged 27, a his, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Lord Goderich" from London, England
  • Mary Carter Junior, aged 3 months, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Lord Goderich" from London, England
  • John Carter, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Bartley" in 1833
  • Sophia Carter, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Bartley" in 1833
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carter migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Miss Mary Ann Carter, (McCarthy, Carthy, Carty), (b. 1764), aged 24, British settler convicted in Reading, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for shop lifting, transported aboard the ship "Lady Juliana" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 10
  • Miss Elizabeth Carter, British settler convicted in Yorkshire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 11
  • Mr. John Carter, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 11
  • Mr. John Carter, British settler convicted in Wiltshire, England in 1786, sentenced to 7 years for stealing spoons, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 11
  • Mr. Thomas Carter, (d. 1790), British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to Life for stealing coats, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 11
Second Fleet
  • Mr. Henry Carter, British settler convicted in Lancashire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "HMS Gorgon" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
  • Mr. Mark Carter, (James, Chesson), British settler convicted in Surrey, England in 1787, sentenced to 14 years for stealing a horse, transported aboard the ship "Matilda" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
  • Mr. Richard Carter, British settler convicted in Berkshire, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing a horse, transported aboard the ship "Matilda" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
  • Mr. John Carter, British settler convicted in London, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
Third Fleet
  • Mr. Richard Carter, (b. 1744), aged 43, English labourer convicted in Shrewsbury, Shropshire on 13th March 1784, sentenced for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Friendship" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 11
  • Mr. William Carter, British seaman on the Navy support ship for the First Fleet the "HMAT Supply" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788, he deserted at Cape in 1787
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Carter Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Carter Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Carter 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:

Carter Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • B Carter, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1837
  • Charles Carter, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • Joseph Carter, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Aurora
  • Joseph Carter, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Aurora" in 1840
  • Ann Carter, aged 27, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Aurora" in 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carter 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. 25
Carter Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Christopher Carter, aged 45, who was aboard the ship "Sea Venture" who wrecked in Bermudas in 1609, he stayed behind in Bermuda 14
  • Mr. John Carter, (b. 1608), aged 26, British settler travelling from London, UK arriving in St Christopher (St. Kitts) on 5th January 1634 14
  • Mr. George Carter, (b. 1607), aged 28, British settler traveling aboard the ship "William and John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 26
  • Mr. James Carter, (b. 1610), aged 25, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Paul of London" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 26

Contemporary Notables of the name Carter (post 1700) +

  • President James Earl "Jimmy" Carter (1924-2024), American politician, 39th President of the U.S.A (1977-81), recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize
  • Travis C. Carter (1982-2013), American forest firefighter killed in the Yarnell Hill Fire, near Yarnell, Arizona, ignited by lightning on June 28, 2013; he was eulogized by Scott Foxx in the film Only the Brave (2017)
  • Mildred Ellen Carter (1900-1990), née Davenport, American captain in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
  • Bessie M Carter (b. 1919), American private in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
  • Edith Marguerete Carter (1918-2000), American corporal in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
  • Gladys Elaine Carter (1922-2009), née Schuster, American private in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
  • Sallie Beth Carter (1919-1997), née Alexander, American private in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
  • Ashton Baldwin "Ash" Carter (1954-2022), American military civilian official and academic, 25th United States Secretary of Defense (2015-2017), posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024
  • Chester Conlan Carter (b. 1934), American film, stage and television actor, perhaps best known for playing the medic "Doc" in the American drama television series Combat!, for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award
  • ... (Another 50 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. Mark E Carter (1963-1985), American Sergeant from Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 27
  • Mr. Troy G Carter (1944-1985), American Captain from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 28
  • Mr. Gregory Thomas Carter (1966-1985), American Private 1st Class from Covina, California, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 28
  • Benjamin Carter (b. 1821), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • Sarah Carter (b. 1819), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • ... (Another 40 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Suggested Readings for the name Carter +

  • Brief History and Genealogy of the Carter and Some Allied Families by Lyle Carter.
  • The Carter and Fulcher Families by Jane Chapman.
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  3. 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)
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  6. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  7. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  8. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  9. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  10. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  11. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  12. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 24th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  13. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  14. 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)
  15. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  16. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  17. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
  20. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
  22. Convict Records of Australia (Retreived 2nd January 2021, retreived from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/catherine
  23. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  24. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  25. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  26. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  27. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550

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