Show ContentsMcCarvell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

McCarvell is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The McCarvell family lived in Norfolk. The name is taken from the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, in Carville, Normandy. 1

Early Origins of the McCarvell family

The surname McCarvell was first found in Norfolk.

"The gateway of the ancient Hall [of Wiggenhall] built by the Kerville family, is still remaining. The church is a stately structure in the later English style, with a square embattled tower; the nave is lighted by clerestory windows, and there are a fine brass eagle, and an altar-tomb bearing the arms of the Kervilles and the Plowdens, with the effigies of a knight in armour, his lady, and two children." 2

The source 'History of Norfolk' includes the following entries for the family with various spellings throughout: Robert de Cherevill, Norfolk, 29 Henry II; Roger de Cherevile, Norfolk, 10 Richard I; Walter Cnervyle, rector of Bicham Well, Norfolk, 1329; Frederic de Carvill, Norfolk; Humphrey Carvile, Norfolk, 30 Henry VIII; Thomas Carvel, Norfolk, 1662; and Edmund Carvill, Norfolk, 1599. 3

Early History of the McCarvell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCarvell research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1204, 1545, 1549, 1553, 1566, 1600, 1603, 1622, 1647, 1655, 1664 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McCarvell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCarvell Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like McCarvell are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name McCarvell include Carvill, Carvel, Carvell, Carvil, Carvile, Carville, Kervel, Carvaile, Carwell and many more.

Early Notables of the McCarvell family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Nicholas Carvell (d. 1566), English poet, elected from Eton to King's College 1545, was B.A. 1549, M.A. 1553. "He was at Zurich during the reign of Queen Mary, but returned after Elizabeth's accession and died in the summer of 1566. " 4Thomas Carwell (1600-1664), Jesuit, whose real name was Thorold, "belonged to the ancient Lincolnshire family...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McCarvell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the McCarvell family to Ireland

Some of the McCarvell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 76 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 McCarvell migration to the United States +

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name McCarvell, or a variant listed above:

McCarvell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John McCarvell, who arrived in Harford County, Maryland in 1860 5


The McCarvell Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sola virtus triumphat
Motto Translation: Virtue alone triumphs.


  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 England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. 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)


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