Carpenter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Carpenter is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name was taken on by someone who worked as a carpenter derived from the Old French word carpentier. [1]

The name was quite popular in Normandy as seen in the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniaewhich listed Robert, Gaufrid, Ansketel, Richard, William, Bernard Carpentarius, of Normandy, 1180-95. This Latin form of the name continued into England where Reiner, Adam, Roger, William Carpentarius, of England were listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1189. In fact the Domesday Book of 1086 included Durand Carpentarius, a tenant in capite, Norfolk, and Rabel and Roger Carpentarius at the same time. The latter gave lands to Stoke-Clare Priory, 1090. William Carpentarius was father of Henry and Manasser Biset, Barons t. Henry II. [2]

Early Origins of the Carpenter family

The surname Carpenter was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 which listed Ricardus Carpentarius, Cambridgeshire; and Hugh le Charpenter, Wiltshire. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Johannes Carpenter, wryght; and Willelmus Wryght, carpenter. [3]

Moving ahead two centuries, researchers found John Carpenter (1370?-1441?), Town Clerk of London, son of Richard Carpenter, a citizen of London. “On 20 April 1417 he was chosen town clerk or common clerk of the city, after having held an inferior post in the town clerk’s office for some years previously. ” [4]

John Carpenter (d. 1476), Bishop of Worcester was born probably at Westbury-on-Trym, Gloucestershire. [4]

Early History of the Carpenter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carpenter research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1121, 1429, 1516, 1582, 1621, 1570, 1575, 1627, 1575, 1589, 1628, 1591, 1588, 1589, 1667, 1732, 1657, 1671, 1649, 1714, 1673 and 1683 are included under the topic Early Carpenter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carpenter Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Carpenter include Carpenter, Carpentar, Carpenters, Carpentier and many more.

Early Notables of the Carpenter family (pre 1700)

Distinguished members of the family include Alexander Carpenter, Latinized as Fabricius (fl.1429), author of the ‘Destructorium Vitiorum,’ a treatise which enjoyed a considerable popularity in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, was six times printed before 1516, and was finally reprinted (at Venice) as late as 1582. [4] John Carpenter (d. 1621), was a divine, born in Cornwall, it is believed at Launceston, and entered as a batler at Exeter College about 1570. [4] Richard Carpenter (1575-1627), was a divine, born in Cornwall in 1575. Nathaniel Carpenter (1589-1628?), was an author and philosopher, son of John Carpenter (d. 1591), rector of Northleigh, Devonshire… 
Another 128 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Carpenter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carpenter World Ranking

In the United States, the name Carpenter is the 189^th most popular surname with an estimated 131,811 people with that name. [5] However, in Canada, the name Carpenter is ranked the 928^thmost popular surname with an estimated 5,848 people with that name. [6] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Carpenter is the 689^th popular surname with an estimated 63 people with that name. [7] Australia ranks Carpenter as 498^th with 7,668 people. [8] New Zealand ranks Carpenter as 678^th with 1,048 people. [9] The United Kingdom ranks Carpenter as 444^th with 14,574 people. [10]

 Migration of the Carpenter family to Ireland

Some of the Carpenter family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

 Carpenter migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants.