| ![Show Contents]() Carnley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The surname Carnley is derived from the Welsh word "karn," which means "a pile of stones," such as was often used to mark a burial site. The forebears that initially bore the name Carnley likely lived by a notable heap of stones. There may be a ancient Norman connection to the name as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae notes "Robert and Geoffry le Caron, Normandy, 1180-95." 1 Early Origins of the Carnley familyThe surname Carnley was first found in Glamorganshire (Welsh: Sir Forgannwg), a region of South Wales, anciently part of the Welsh kingdom of Glywysing, where the "family claim descent from Ithel, King of Ghent, now Monmouthshire. Thomas o'r Gare, youngest son of Ithel, King of Ghent, was brought up at one of his father's seats called Pencarne (from pen, the head, and carne, a rock, a heap of stones), whence he was named Game, which continues the surname of the family." 2 3 Early History of the Carnley familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carnley research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1561 is included under the topic Early Carnley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Carnley Spelling VariationsAlthough there are comparatively few Welsh surnames, they have a great many spelling variations. Variations of Welsh names began almost immediately after their acceptance within Welsh society. In the Middle Ages, it was up to priests and the few other people that recorded names in official documents to decide how to spell the names that they heard. Variations that occurred because of improper recording increased dramatically as the names were later transliterated into English. The Brythonic Celtic language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, featured many highly inflected sounds that could not be properly captured by the English language. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were all indicated by the particular variation of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Carnley have included Carn, Carne and others. Early Notables of the Carnley familyAnother 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Carnley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Carnley familyMany Welsh joined the great migrations to North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Like their Scottish and Irish neighbors, many Welsh families left their homeland hoping to find hope and prosperity in a land that the English did not exercise a tight rule over. Those Welsh immigrants that successfully traveled to North America went on to make significant contributions to the rapid development of both Canada and the United States in terms of the settling of land and the establishment of industry. They also added to the rich cultural heritage of both countries. An examination into the immigration and passenger lists has discovered a number of people bearing the name Carnley: Catherine Carne settled in New York with her husband David and four children in 1842; Jarrick Carne arrived in Philadelphia in 1732; John Carn settled in Barbados in 1678.
- 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)
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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