Cartmael History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Cartmael is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in or near the village of Cartmel in the county of Lancashire (now part of Cumbria.) 1 Thus, Cartmael is a habitation surname which is derived from the name of a place. Like most English local surnames, the name Cartmael was originally preceded by a preposition such as de. However, the preposition had usually been dropped from the name by the end of the 14th century. "The Staffordshire variants of this surname seem to have come from North Lancashire via Cheshire." 2 One source notes: "Cartmell was the name of four tenants in Garstang in the reign of James I." 3 And another sources adds this anecdote: "The signification of this name apparently has reference to the famous passage - at low water - across the Leven sands. The guides over the sands are, or were, called carters, passengers generally being conveyed in carts." 4 Early Origins of the Cartmael familyThe surname Cartmael was first found in Lancashire, at Cartmel, a parish, in the union of Ulverston, hundred of Lonsdale north of the Sands. "This place, which is supposed to have derived its name from the British words Kert, a camp, and mell, a fell, or small mountain, according to Camden was given to St. Cuthbert, in 677, by Egfrid, King of Northumbria, with all the Britons inhabiting it. In 782, Ethelred, upon his restoration to the throne of that kingdom, allured from their sanctuary at York the sons of Alfwold, who had been advanced to the crown upon his expulsion, and put them to death at Cartmel. In 1188, William Mareschall, Earl of Pembroke, founded a priory for Regular canons of the order of St. Augustine, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and endowed it with all his lands at 'Kertmell,' " 5 Now a village in Cumbria, it has more recently become known as the "home of sticky toffee pudding." Early rolls listed: Vckeman de Kertmel in the Pipe Rolls for Lancashire in 1188; William de Kertmel in the Assize Rolls for Lancashire in 1260; and William Cartmett in Yorkshire in 1438; and Peter Cartmayle in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1504. 6 Early History of the Cartmael familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cartmael research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1306, 1378, 1563, 1578, 1648, 1664, 1673, 1681, 1701, 1748 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cartmael History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Cartmael Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Cartmael are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. 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. The variations of the name Cartmael include: Cartmill, Cartmills, Cartmell, Cartmells, Kertmell, Cartmele, Cartmail, Kartmill, Kartmell, Certmill, Cartnell and many more. Early Notables of the Cartmael familyMore information is included under the topic Early Cartmael Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Cartmael family to IrelandSome of the Cartmael family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Cartmael familyMany English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Cartmael or a variant listed above: the Cartmell family, who settled in Sangamon County, Illinois in 1730; Thomas Cartmill, who was naturalized in New York in 1831; Neal Carmel, who was naturalized in Philadelphia in 1841.
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