Show ContentsCarra History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Carra is one of the names derived from the families of the ancient Dalriadan clans of Scotland. It is derived from the name Macara, which is the Gaelic word for son of the young, manly one.

Early Origins of the Carra family

The surname Carra was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Carra family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carra research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1690, 1745, 1815 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Carra History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carra Spelling Variations

Spelling in the medieval era was a highly imprecise process. Translation, particularly from Gaelic to English, was little better. For these reasons, early Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. In various documents Carra has been spelled McAree, MacAree, McAra, MacAra, McArra, MacArra, McCarra, MacCarra, McCarry, MacCarry, McCarrie and many more.

Early Notables of the Carra family

More information is included under the topic Early Carra Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Carra family to Ireland

Some of the Carra family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 106 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Carra migration to the United States +

The hardy Scots who made the crossing settled all along the east coast of North America and in the great west that was just then opening up. At the time of the American War of Independence, many United Empire Loyalists moved north from the American colonies to Canada. Scottish national heritage became better known in North America in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic events. An examination of immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Carra arrived in North America very early:

Carra Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Fredrach Carra, aged 45, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1742 1
Carra Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Habil Carra, who landed in America in 1889 1
  • Khahil Carra, who arrived in America in 1889 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Carra (post 1700) +

  • Lucille Carra, American documentary film director, producer, and writer
  • Lawrence Carra (1909-2006), American professor of drama at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Raffaella Carra (1943-2021), born Raffaella Maria Roberta Pellon, Italian singer, dancer, television presenter, actress and model
  • Gloria Carrá (b. 1971), Argentine actress, singer and composer
  • Gian-Carlo Carra, Canadian municipal politician, Councillor of Ward 9 in Calgary, Alberta
  • Alexis Carra (b. 1990), French footballer
  • Carlo Carra (1881-1966), Italian futurist painter
  • Enzo Carra (1943-2023), Italian journalist and politician who served in the Chamber of Deputies from 2001 to 2013
  • Claude Carra de Saint-Cyr, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 2
  • Carra B. George, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Montana, 1996 3


  1. 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)
  2. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, February 11) Claude Carra. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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