Carr Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Carr last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Carr last name
Meaning of the Carr last name: dweller by a marsh or fen. Carr is a northern English topographic name from Middle English kerr, "wet ground, marsh overgrown with brushwood", a word of Old Norse origin. It is most common in Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire, where carr land is still a field name. In Ireland it also translates several Gaelic names, such as Ó Carra in Galway and Mac Giolla Chathair in Donegal. The Scottish Kerr has the same Norse root. The Old Norse word kjarr, "brushwood", was used for low marshy ground, and the word carr is still used in northern England for wet woodland. Medieval records show the name as del Kerr from the 13th century. In Northumberland, the Carrs of Ford and Etal were a notable Border family. In Ireland, the name was used for families of Ó Carra and other Gaelic origins. Carr families emigrated to North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Carr name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Carr name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Ireland and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Carr name FAQ
What does the Carr name mean?
Dweller by a marsh or fen. Common variants include Kerr, Karr, Ker.
Where does the Carr surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Ireland and Australia.
Is there a Carr coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Carr crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Carr coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.