Show ContentsCarmenough History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Carmenough

What does the name Carmenough mean?

Cornwall, one of the original six "Celtic nations" is the homeland to the surname Carmenough. A revival of the Cornish language which began in the 9th century AD has begun. No doubt this was the language spoken by distant forebears of the Carmenough family. Though surnames became common during medieval times, English people were formerly known only by a single name. The way in which hereditary surnames were adopted in medieval England is fascinating. Many Cornish surnames appear to be topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees, many are actually habitation surnames. The name Carmenough is a local type of surname and the Carmenough family lived in Cornwall at the manor of Carminow.

Early Origins of the Carmenough family

The surname Carmenough was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Carminow, in the parish of St.Mawgan. Family tradition has it that this family goes back to the time of King Arthur, or so it was attested in the Court of Chivalry, at the time of King Richard II when the family claimed a Coat of Arms which was also being used by the Scropes and the Grosvenors. The Carminow also attested that one of his ancestors represented King Edward the Confessor at the Court of the Duke of Normandy (1060) A.D.

The manor of "Boconnoc was the seat of the Carminows; as one of this family presented to the rectory so early as the year 1318. This was the first family that possessed this manor independently of the earldom, to which it was primarily annexed. From the Carminows it passed by an heiress to Sir Hugh Courtenay, who was slain at the fatal battle of Tewkesbury in 1471." 1

"The manor of Merthen, on which were formerly a park and a stately mansion, belonged anciently to the Carminows, from which family it passed in marriage with a co-heiress to the Trevarthians." 1

"The manor of Wynyanton, which formerly gave name to the parish [of Gunwalloe], belonged at a very early period to the crown. In 1235 it was the property of the Earl of Cornwall, by whom it was exchanged for another portion of property with Gervase de Hornington. Shortly afterwards it passed to the Carminows, by one of whose co-heiresses it was carried in marriage to Trevarthian." 1

Early History of the Carmenough family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carmenough research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1801 is included under the topic Early Carmenough History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carmenough Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Carminow, Carmenow, Carminoe, Carminough, Carmino, Carmynow, Carminaw and many more.

Early Notables of the Carmenough family

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

Migration of the Carmenough family

Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Carmenough were Edward Carminaw who landed in North America in 1750.



The Carmenough 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: Calla bagger


  1. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print


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