Show ContentsCargile History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Cargile is a name whose ancestors lived among the Picts, a tribe in ancient Scotland. The Cargile family lived in the lands of Cargill in east Perthshire where the family at one time had extensive territories. However, the Gorrigal variant originates in Corrigall in Harray on the Orkney Islands.

Early Origins of the Cargile family

The surname Cargile was first found in East Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland. Cargill is a parish containing, with the villages of Burreltown, Wolfhill, and Woodside.

"This place, of which the name, of Celtic origin, signifies a village with a church, originally formed a portion of the parish of Cupar-Angus, from which, according to ancient records, it was separated prior to the year 1514." 1

Some of the first records of the family include Walter de Kergyl who witnessed a quitclaim of the land of Drumkerauch in 1260, Bernard de Kergylle who received a gift of the lands of Leisington from William de Munificheth in 1283, and Iwyn de Garghille of the county of Strivelyn and Wauter de Kergille of the county of Perth who rendered homage in 1296 to King Edward I of England. Bernard de Kergylle had a confirmation charter of the lands of Culmelly and of Ald Culmelly in the barony of Cusseny (Cushnie) in 1374 and William de Kergill was granted a charter in favor of the Friars Preachers of Aberdeen in 1401. Symon Cargyl held part of Kethyk in 1457 and was tenant of Park of Newbyggyn, 1473. 2

Further to the south in England, Cowgill is an ecclesiastical district, in the parochial chapelry of Dent, parish and union of Sedbergh in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes de Colgyll and Alicia de Colgyll as holding lands there at that time. 4

In 1481 a letter of denisation was issued to John Kergyll, clerk, a Scotsman living in Kent. 2

Early History of the Cargile family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cargile research. Another 198 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1283, 1457, 1492, 1497, 1498, 1503, 1572, 1580, 1585, 1601, 1605, 1619, 1638, 1640, 1643, 1681, 1685 and 1859 are included under the topic Early Cargile History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cargile Spelling Variations

The appearance of the printing press and the first dictionaries in the last few hundred years did much to standardize spelling. Prior to that time scribes spelled according to sound, a practice that resulted in many spelling variations. Cargile has been spelled Cargill, Cargille, Carnigill, Cargile, Kergylle, Cargyle, Carrigle, McGirl, McCargill and many more.

Early Notables of the Cargile family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Donald Cargill (1619-1681), a Scottish Covenanter from Rattray, Blairgowrie who worked to uphold the principles of the National Covenant of 1638 and Solemn League and Covenant of 1643. He was sentenced to death and hanged in Edinburgh on 27 July 1681. 5James Cargill (fl. 1605)...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cargile Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cargile Ranking

In the United States, the name Cargile is the 9,993rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Cargile family to Ireland

Some of the Cargile family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Cargile migration to the United States +

The expense of the crossing to the North American colonies seemed small beside the difficulties of remaining in Scotland. It was a long and hard trip, but at its end lay the reward of freedom. Some Scots remained faithful to England and called themselves United Empire Loyalists, while others fought in the American War of Independence. Much of this lost Scottish heritage has been recovered in the last century through Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Cargile:

Cargile Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Robert Cargile, aged 41, who landed in America, in 1921

Contemporary Notables of the name Cargile (post 1700) +

  • Steven Glenn "Steve" Cargile (b. 1982), American NFL football safety who played from 2004 to 2009
  • Charles H. Cargile (b. 1853), American surgeon, eponym of the Cargile membrane, a sterile membrane prepared from the peritoneum of the ox used in abdominal surgery


The Cargile 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: Domino confido
Motto Translation: Confide in the Lord.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. 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)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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