Carey Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Carey last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Carey last name
Meaning of the Carey last name: descendant of Ciardha ("dark"). Carey has several sources. In Ireland it anglicizes Ó Ciardha, "descendant of Ciardha", from ciar, "dark", a sept of the Cairbre in County Kildare, and also Mac Fhiachra in the west. In England, Cary and Carey come from places called Cary in Somerset, named after the River Cary. The Irish strand is the largest today, centred in Munster, especially Cork and Kerry, and in the Midlands. The Somerset place name Cary, as in Castle Cary and Cary Fitzpaine, comes from a pre-English river name. In Devon, the Cary family of Cockington were well known from the 14th century. The Irish Ó Ciardha held lands in north Kildare until the Anglo-Norman invasion, after which they declined. Many Irish Careys emigrated to the United States, England and Australia in the 19th century, and the name is now common in all three countries.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Carey name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Carey name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Carey name FAQ
What does the Carey name mean?
Descendant of Ciardha ("dark"). Common variants include Cary, Keary, O'Carey.
Where does the Carey surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a Carey coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Carey crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Carey coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).