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Show ContentsCarter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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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

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • William Carter of Eccleshall Castle

Carter World Ranking

In 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

Ireland 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.

United States Carter migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Carter Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Robert Carter, (d. 1621), who arrived in Plymouth in 1620 aboard the ship "Mayflower" 10
  • Rosamus Carter, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship "George" 10
  • John Carter, who arrived in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship "Prosperous"
  • Mr. Henry Carter, aged 42, who arrived in Bermuda, (Somers Islands) in 1635 aboard the ship "Truelove" 10
  • Martha Carter, aged 27 who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Hopewell" 10
  • ... (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 11
  • Eliza Carter, who arrived in Virginia in 1724 11
  • Charles Carter, who arrived in Mississippi in 1798 11
  • Benjamin Carter, who landed in Mississippi in 1799 11
Carter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Andrew Carter, who landed in America in 1818 11
  • Mr. Carter, who landed in Mobile Ala in 1821 11
  • 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 12
  • 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 12
  • ... (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 13
  • 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 13
  • 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 13
  • 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 13
  • 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 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Carter migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Carter Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Chris Carter, who immigrated to St. John's, Newfoundland in 1705 14
  • Davd Jonathn Carter, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Eliz Carter, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Ann Carter, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Charles 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.)

Australia Carter migration to Australia +

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

Carter Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Mr. William Carter, English convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for life, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Miss Eleanor Carter, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years , transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • Miss Sarah Carter, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for 7 years , transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Carter Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Carter, English convict from London, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 17
  • Miss Mary Carter, (b. 1791), aged 22, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Catherine" on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
  • Mr. George Carter, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
  • Mr. George Carter, (b. 1767), aged 49, English convict who was convicted in Yorkshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • Mr. Daniel Carter, (b. 1787), aged 32, English hawker who was convicted in Surrey, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1822 21
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand 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.)

West Indies 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. 22
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 11
  • Mr. John Carter, (b. 1608), aged 26, British settler travelling from London, UK arriving in St Christopher (St. Kitts) on 5th January 1634 11
  • Mr. George Carter, (b. 1607), aged 28, British settler traveling aboard the ship "William and John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 23
  • Mr. James Carter, (b. 1610), aged 25, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Paul of London" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 23

Contemporary Notables of the name Carter (post 1700) +

  • Terry Carter (1928-2024), born John Everett DeCoste, was an American actor and filmmaker
  • Elliot Cook Carter Jr. (b. 1908), American composer
  • Elanor Rosalynn Smith Carter (1927-2023), former First Lady of president of the United States Jimmy Carter and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • William Hodding Carter III (1935-2023), American journalist and politician, 15th Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs (1977-1980)
  • Ruth E. Carter (b. 1960), American costume designer for film and television, with over 40 films to her credit. Academy Award for Best Costume Design winner for Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). Nominated for the films Malcolm X (1992), Amistad (1997)
  • Aaron Charles Carter (1987-2022), American rapper, singer, and actor, known for his four studio albums, brother of Nick Carter of the boy band Backstreet Boys
  • Ashton Baldwin "Ash" Carter (1954-2022), American military civilian official and academic, 25th United States Secretary of Defense (2015-2017)
  • Fred Carter (1938-2022), American comic book artist known for the work he did on Jack Chick's tracts
  • Gene Carter (1935-2021), American jurist, Senior United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine (2003-2021)
  • Jerry Carter (1954-2021), American Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives elected in 2018
  • ... (Another 38 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 24
  • Mr. Troy G Carter (1944-1985), American Captain from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 24
  • Mr. Gregory Thomas Carter (1966-1985), American Private 1st Class from Covina, California, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 24
Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. Harold Hewitt Carter (1879-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 25
Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. Alfred  Carter (1879-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 26
  • Miss Clara  Carter (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 26
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Robert J W Carter (b. 1922), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 27
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Stanley Carter, British Stoker 2nd Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 28
  • Mr. Robert Carter (b. 1917), English Ordinary Seaman from England, who sailed on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) prior to its sinking 28
  • Mr. Charles Carter, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 28
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Ralph Carter, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse and survived the sinking, but was listed as missing in action in 1941 29
  • Mr. John Carter, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 29
  • Mr. Kenneth Herbert Carter, British Able Seaman-Gunner, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 29
HMS Royal Oak
  • William Frederick Carter (1914-1939), British Seaman with the Royal Navy Reserve aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 30
  • Rowland William Hill Carter (1915-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 30
  • Gordon William Carter (1919-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 30
  • John Carter (d. 1939), British Leading Stoker with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 30
North Sea Flood
  • William Carter, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
Prince of Wales colliery
  • Mr. John Carter (b. 1856), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 31
  • Mr. William Carter (b. 1859), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 31
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. James W. Carter (d. 1912), aged 46, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 32
  • Father Ernest Courtenay Carter (d. 1912), aged 54, English Second Class passenger from London, England who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 32
  • Mrs. Lilian Carter (d. 1912), (née Hughes), aged 45, English Second Class passenger from London, England who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 32
  • Mrs. Lucile Carter, (née Polk), aged 36, American First Class passenger from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 4 32
  • Master William Thornton II Carter, aged 11, American First Class passenger from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 4 32
  • ... (Another 2 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
SS Atlantic
  • Ann Cater Carter, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
  • Mr. Richard E. Carter, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
SS Caribou
  • Mr. Llewellyn Carter (b. 1918), Newfoundland crew member from Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he died in the sinking
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Edward J. Carter, American Platoon Sergeant working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 33
  • Mr. Burton Lowell Carter, American Seaman Second Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 33
  • Mr. Paxton Turner Carter, American Warrant Officer-Pay Clerk from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 33

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. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  11. 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)
  12. 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
  13. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  14. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
  17. 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
  18. Convict Records of Australia (Retreived 2nd January 2021, retreived from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/catherine
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
  22. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  23. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  24. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  25. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  26. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  27. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  28. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  29. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  30. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  31. Entombed in flood and flame (retrieved 3rd August 2021). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20120603025705/http://www.crosskeys.me.uk/history/prince.htm
  32. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  33. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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