Show ContentsCarr History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Carr

What does the name Carr mean?

The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Scotland were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. Scottish patronymic names emerged as early as the mid-9th century. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. The surname Carr is derived from the Gaelic name O'Ciarain or O'Ceirin, which itself comes from the Gaelic word ciar, which means black or dark brown. 1

Another source explains a different understanding of the origin of the name: "The frequency with which such entries as Robert or William del Carr, or atte Carr, or Karr, or Kerr recur in Lancashire and Yorkshire records of the 13th and 14th centuries is explained by the fact that Carr or Kerr meant a low-lying meadow." 2

And another source notes: "the Cars or Kers are undoubtedly a very ancient people in this island, but it is uncertain whether they be of French or English extraction. Those who contend for the former, allege that the Baron Ker and other families of his name now existing in France, trace their origin higher than the time of William, Duke of Normandy, who, being attended by a considerable commander of their name in 1066, rewarded him for his bravery and conduct with divers possessions in the north of England." 3

Early Origins of the Carr family

The surname Carr was first found in Lancashire (located in northwest England and dates back to 1180), where one of the earliest records of a progenitor of the Clan was a John Ker, hunter, resident of Soonhope in 1190 AD. He is believed to have received a grant of land from the Crown and settled in the Border country of Scotland soon after the Norman invasion moved northwards. 4

Within a century, two main branches evolved from two brothers, Ralph and John who lived near Jedburgh in c. 1330. They were both listed in the Roll of Battle Abbey as having descended from the Norman Karre. 5 The Kerrs of Cessford were descended from Ralph, and the Kerrs of Ferniehurst were descended from John.

Now we draw the reader's attention to a slightly different origin with a different timeline but similar. "Two brothers, of Anglo-Norman descent., who bore this name [Karre] are said to have settled in Scotland during the 13th century. No one known which was the elder of the two, for 'neither house would yield the superiority to the other, forming two distinct races of war-like Border chieftains.' The Kerrs of Fernihirst are represented by the Marquesses of Lothian, the Kers of Cessord by the Dukes of Roxburghe." 6

We believe that the reference to the 13th century is a typo, as it should have read 14th century (the 1300's) not the 1200's.

Early History of the Carr family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carr research. Another 172 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1130, 1205, 1264, 1296, 1350, 1553, 1570, 1578, 1600, 1605, 1606, 1609, 1615, 1616, 1624, 1650, 1654, 1675, 1680, 1684, 1690, 1741, 1797 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Carr History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carr Spelling Variations

The frequent translations of surnames from and into Gaelic, accounts for the multitude of spelling variations found in Scottish surnames. Furthermore, the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent because medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules. The different versions of a surname, such as the inclusion of the patronymic prefix "Mac", frequently indicated a religious or Clan affiliation, or even a division of the family. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into Scotland, accelerating accentuating the alterations to various surnames. The name Carr has also been spelled Kerr, Car, Carr, Ker, Cearr (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the Carr family

Notable among the family at this time was

  • Robert Kerr (or Carr), 1st Earl of Ancram (c. 1578-1654), a Scottish nobleman and writer
  • Anne Carr, Countess of Bedford (1615-1684), English noblewoman, wife of William Russell, 5th Earl of Bedford

Carr World Ranking

In the United States, the name Carr is the 205th most popular surname with an estimated 126,837 people with that name. 7 However, in Canada, the name Carr is ranked the 437th most popular surname with an estimated 10,800 people with that name. 8 And in Australia, the name Carr is the 227th popular surname with an estimated 14,912 people with that name. 9 New Zealand ranks Carr as 226th with 2,554 people. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Carr as 161st with 33,307 people. 11

Migration of the Carr family to Ireland

Some of the Carr family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 155 words (11 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Carr migration to the United States +

Some of the first North American settlers with Carr name or one of its variants:

Carr Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • George Carr, who landed in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1633 12
  • Caleb Carr (1624-1695), aged 11, who arrived in America in 1635 aboard the ship Elizabeth and Anne; he rose to become the 16th Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in 1695 12
  • Rich Carr, aged 29, who landed in America in 1635 12
  • Richard Carr, aged 29, British settler who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Abigail" 12
  • Mr. Robert Carr, (b. 1614), aged 21, British tailor travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Elizabeth and Anne" arriving in Massachusetts Bay (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire) in 1635 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Carr Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Catherine Carr, who landed in Virginia in 1702 12
  • Thomas Carr, who landed in Virginia in 1713 12
  • John Carr, who settled in Virginia in 1716
  • Conrad Carr, who arrived in North Carolina in 1764 12
  • Michael Carr, who arrived in America in 1764 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Carr Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Dennis Carr, aged 22, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 12
  • Jos Carr, who landed in America in 1805 12
  • John Carr, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1806 12
  • Charles Carr, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 12
  • Alexander Carr, who landed in America in 1811 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Carr Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Christian Carr, who landed in Arkansas in 1904 12

Carr migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Carr Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John Carr at St. John's, Newfoundland in the late 1700's 14
  • Henry Carr, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Nicholas Carr, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Eliza Carr, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mrs. Carr, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Carr Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Carr, who landed in Prince Edward Island in 1817
  • Bridget Carr, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1823
  • David Carr, who landed in Canada in 1830
  • Eliza Carr, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1833
  • William Carr, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Ugoni" from Belfast, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Carr Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Miss M Carr, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Carr migration to Australia +

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

Carr Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Mr. William Carr, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Carr Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Jane Carr, (b. 1769), aged 31, English house maid who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1849 16
  • Mr. Peter Carr, Irish convict who was convicted in Dundalk, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
  • Mr. William Carr, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
  • Miss Anne Carr, (Hinchley), Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 21st January 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
  • Mr. John Carr, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carr 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:

Carr Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Henry Carr, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842
  • Dr. Carr, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Berhampore" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th June 1849 21
  • Mrs. Carr, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Berhampore" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th June 1849 21
  • Mr. Carr, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship "Tornado" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th September 1859 22
  • Mrs. Carr, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship "Tornado" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th September 1859 22
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carr 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. 23
Carr Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Andrew Carr, (b. 1612), aged 23, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 24

Contemporary Notables of the name Carr (post 1700) +

  • Milton Robert Carr (1943-2024), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Michigan, 1975-81, 1983-95; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1980; Candidate for U.S. Senator from Michigan, 1994 25
  • Caleb Carr (1955-2024), American military historian and author, son of Lucien Carr and Francesca Von Hartz
  • Lucien Carr (1925-2005), American editor and key member of the Beat Generation in the 1940's
  • William Curtis Carr III (1945-2024), American college football player, coach, and athletics administrator
  • Charles Lee Glenn Carr Jr. (1967-2022), American Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1990 to 1997
  • Colonel Gerald Paul Carr (1932-2020), American mechanical and aeronautical engineer, United States Marine Corps officer, naval aviator, and NASA astronaut, Commander of Skylab 4
  • Jesse Willard "Pete" Carr (1950-2020), American guitarist, known for his work with Bob Seger, Joe Cocker, Boz Scaggs, Paul Simon, The Staple Singers, Rod Stewart, Barbra Streisand, and many more
  • Fred Alton Carr (1946-2018), American NFL football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers (1968-1977), inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
  • Charmian Carr (1942-2016), born Charmian Anne Farnon, an American actress and singer best known for her role as Liesl, in the 1965 film version of The Sound of Music
  • David Michael Carr (1956-2015), American writer, columnist, and author for the New York Times
  • ... (Another 188 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mrs. Margaret Bell Carr (1915-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Whangarei, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 26
Halifax Explosion
  • Master George  Carr (1910-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 27
  • Mrs. Mary  Carr (1872-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 27
  • Mr. Ernest Allen Phipps  Carr (1885-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 27
Hillcrest Coal Mine
  • Mr. Henry Carr (1872-1914), English Miner from Farnworth& Kearsley, Lancashire,, England, United Kingdom who worked in the Hillcrest Coal Mine, Alberta, Canada and died in the mine collapse 28
HMAS Sydney II
HMS Hood
  • Mr. John Carr (b. 1917), English Stoker 2nd Class serving for the Royal Navy from Trimdon Grange, County Durham, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 30
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Jack Carr, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 31
HMS Royal Oak
  • Frank Cuthbert Carr (d. 1939), British Steward with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 32
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Richard Stephen Carr (d. 1912), aged 37, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 33
  • Miss Jane Carr (d. 1912), aged 47, Irish Third Class passenger from Aclare, Sligo who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 33
Senghenydd colliery
  • Mr. Peter Carr (b. 1868), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 34
USS Indianapolis
  • Harry Leroy Carr (1927-1945), American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 35


The Carr 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: Sero sed serio
Motto Translation: Late but in earnest.


Suggested Readings for the name Carr +

  • Ancestors and Descendants of Amasa Carr by Charles Carr.

  1. 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)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. 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)
  5. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  6. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  9. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  10. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  11. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  12. 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)
  13. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 24th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  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 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd June 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/experiment
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  21. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  22. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  23. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  24. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  25. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  26. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  27. 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
  28. List Of Miners - Hillcrest Mine Disaster Data. (Retrieved 2014, June 24) . Retrieved from http://www.hillcrestminedisaster.com/data/index.php?title=List_Of_Miners
  29. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  30. 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
  31. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  32. 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
  33. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  34. Universal Colliery Senghenydd 1913 disaster retrieved 21st September 2019, retrieved from http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/deathrolls/SenghenyddDead1913.htm
  35. Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew


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