Carroll History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Carroll has undergone many variations in the time that has passed since its genesis. In Gaelic it appeared as Cearbhaill, which is derived from the name of Cearbhal, the Lord of Ely who helped King Brian Boru lead the Irish to victory over the Danes at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. Donnchad Ua Cerbaill or Donnchadh Ó Cearbhaill was King of Airgíalla, fl. c. 1130-1168. Maol Ruanaidh Cam Ó Cearbhaill, sometimes Anglicized as Cam O’Kayrwill (died 10 June 1329) was a notable Irish harpist and player of the tiompan who was murdered with many others at the Braganstown Massacre.

Early Origins of the Carroll family

The surname Carroll was first found in counties Tipperary, Offaly, Monaghan and Louth. Through their connection with Cearbal, they descend from King Oilioll Olum. 

There were six distinct O’Carroll septs prior to the Anglo-Norman Conquest. While four disintegrated before the end of the 13th century, the two most important septs continued. These were O’Carroll of Ely O’Carroll, from the counties of Tipperary and Offaly, and O’Carroll of Oriel, from the counties of Monagan and Louth. 

While the Oriel O’Carrolls disappeared as an official sept resulting from the Anglo-Norman Conquest, the members of that sept were not scattered, but remained mainly within their ancient territories. However, the O’Carrolls of Ely O’Carroll managed to maintain their independence and heritage until the end of the 16th century, and continued to play an important role in Irish history.

They formerly held large territories in the county of Tipperary, but were confined to the area around Birr in the county of Offaly by the rise of the powerful Norman Butlers.

Early History of the Carroll family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carroll research. Another 200 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1014, 1172, 1451, 1600, 1916, 1625, 1711, 1661, 1720, 1735, 1815, 1737, 1832, 1789, 1792, 1602 and 1673 are included under the topic Early Carroll History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carroll Spelling Variations

Official documents, crafted by early scribes and church officials, primarily contained names that were spelled according to their pronunciation. This lead to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations, creating an illusion that a single person was many people. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Carroll that are preserved in the archival documents of the time are O’Carroll, Carroll, Carrel, Carrell, Carrill, Carrol, Carroll, Caryll, Garvil, Garvill and many more.

Early Notables of the Carroll family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family name at this time was John Caryll (1625-1711), 1st BaronCaryll of Durford who came of an ancient Roman Catholic family, which had been settled, from the close of the sixteenth century, at West Harting in Sussex. [1] Charles Carroll (1661-1720), often called Charles Carroll the Settler, to differentiate him from his son and grandson, was a wealthy lawyer… 
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Carroll Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carroll World Ranking

In the United States, the name Carroll is the 176^th most popular surname with an estimated 136,785 people with that name. [2] However, in Canada, the name Carroll is ranked the 530^thmost popular surname with an estimated 9,257 people with that name. [3] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Carroll is the 236^th popular surname with an estimated 187 people with that name. [4] Australia ranks Carroll as 173^rd with 18,007 people. [5] New Zealand ranks Carroll as 356^th with 1,802 people. [6] The United Kingdom ranks Carroll as 316^th with 19,378 people. [7]

 Carroll migration to the United States +

North America accepted thousands of Irish immigrants during the 19th century as their homeland suffered under foreign imperialistic rule. Although settlers from the early portion of the century came to North America by choice in search of land, by far the largest influx of Irish immigrants came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Many of these Irish families left the country destitute and in some cases suffering from disease. However, those who survived the long ocean voyage were especially vital to the development of industry in the United States and what would become known as Canada. Research of immigration and passenger lists has shown many early immigrants bearing the name Carroll: 

Carroll Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Christopher Carroll, who arrived in Maryland in 1638 [8]
• George Carroll, who landed in Maryland in 1672 [8]
• Charles Carroll, who arrived in Maryland in 1688 [8]

Carroll Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• John Carroll, who landed in Virginia in 1701 [8]
• Jacob Carroll, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 [8]
• Anne Carroll, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 [8]
• Anthony Carroll, who arrived in New York in 1798 [8]

Carroll Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Danl Carroll, aged 20, who arrived in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1803 [8]
• Ric Carroll, aged 22, who landed in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1803 [8]
• Elizth Carroll, who landed in America in 1804 [8]
• Edward Carroll, who landed in America in 1806 [8]
• John S Carroll, aged 31, who landed in New York in 1812 [8]
• … (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)