Show ContentsCarico History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

From the ancient and beautiful Italian island of Sicily emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Carico. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they were characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Local names, also found in Italy, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land. Often Italian local surnames bore the prefix "di," which signifies emigration from one place to another, and does not necessarily denote nobility. The Carico family lived in a town just outside Palermo, as in 1189, a member of the Caro family was the Archbishop of Monreale.

Early Origins of the Carico family

The surname Carico was first found in Sicily (Italian: Sicilia), the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Naples and the southern portion of the peninsula. Research shows that records of the Carico family date back to the year 1189 when a member of the Caro family was the Archbishop of Monreale, a town just outside Palermo.

Early History of the Carico family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carico research. The years 1460, 1470, 1499, 1507, 1508, 1520, 1525, 1543, 1557, 1566, 1571, 1602, 1610, 1653, 1713, 1725, 1770, 1825 and 1841 are included under the topic Early Carico History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carico Spelling Variations

Enormous variation in spelling and form characterizes those Italian names that originated in the medieval era. This is caused by two main factors: regional tradition, and inaccuracies in the recording process. Before the last few hundred years, scribes spelled names according to their sounds. Spelling variations were the unsurprising result. The variations of Carico include Caro, Cari, Cara, De Caro, Di Caro, Di Cara, La Cara, Li Cari, Carello, Carelli, Carella, Carillo, Caretti, Caroli, Caretta, Carino, Carini, Caruccio, Carucci, Carocci, Carracci, Caricchio, Caricchia, Carollo, Carullo, Carulli, Carotti, Carone, Caroni, Carofiglio, Carofratello, Carolillo, Carotenuto and many more.

Early Notables of the Carico family

Prominent among bearers of this surname in early times was Marchetto Cara (c. 1470-1525), an Italian composer, lutenist and singer of the Renaissance.Michelangelo Merisi (Michele Angelo Merigi or Amerighi) da Caravaggio, (1571-1610), was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life. He is most famous for his technique of "Chiaroscuro" or light and dark contrast. Some of his most famous works include The Calling of St. Matthew, and David with the Head of Goliath.Polidoro Caldara, usually known as Polidoro da Caravaggio (c. 1499-1543) was an Italian painter of the Mannerist period...
Another 95 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Carico Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carico Ranking

In the United States, the name Carico is the 15,246th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Carico migration to the United States +

A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Carico:

Carico Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Maria Grazia Carico, aged 48, who immigrated to the United States from Polizsi Generos, in 1899
Carico Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Antonia Carico, aged 29, who landed in America from Lellia, in 1902
  • Cirtogezo Carico, aged 16, who settled in America from Raccnia, in 1907
  • Eugenio Carico, aged 18, who landed in America from Nocera Terinese, Catanzaro, in 1907
  • Salvatore Carico, aged 35, who immigrated to the United States from Floridia, Italy, in 1909
  • Vincenzo Carico, aged 19, who immigrated to America from Serradifalcoo, Sicily, in 1912
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Carico (post 1700) +

  • Allie Carico (b. 1991), American actress, known for her work on Texas Rein (2016)
  • Doris Carico (b. 1936), American hair stylist, known for her work on ShowBoat


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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