Carr Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Carr Origin:

England, Scotland, Ireland

Origins of Carr:

The surname of Carr can be found within the early cultures of Ireland, Scotland, ad England. There are three possible origins of the surname of Carr. The first possible origin of the surname of Carr is that itself is a variant of the surname Kerr. Kerr is said to be a topographical surname. This means that this surname was given to someone who lived on or near a man-made or natural structure. This structure would have been a notable landmark or area within a town or village, thus making it distinguishable to those who hailed from this area. In the case of the surname of Carr, or the surname of Kerr, the original bearer of the surname lived on or near a patch of wet ground that was said to be overgrown with brushwood. “Kerr” is Middle English, but derives from the Old Norse word of “kjarr.” The second possible origin of the surname of Carr is that it comes from the country of Ireland. The Old Gaelic surname of “O’Carra” is said to be able to translate to “son of the spear.” The third possible origin of the surname of Carr is that it also comes from the country of Ireland. It is said that throughout history, surnames in the country of Ireland all stem from the head of a tribe or clan. In the case of the surname of Carr, the Gaelic surname of “MacGoilla Chathair” can be translated to mean “son of the servant of the one called Cathar.” Cathar itself derives from the Old Gaelic word of “cath” which can be translated to mean “battle.” Thus, with the patronymic prefixes of “O’” and “Mac” the surname of Carr in the country of Ireland can be translated to mean “son of the servant of the one who battles,” or “son of the servant of the soldier.”

Variations:

More common variations are: Care, Kerr, Ker, Carre, Carry, Carro, Carri, Carra, Carru, Coarr

England:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Carr can be found within the country of England. One person who was recorded as being named as Osbert de Ker was named in the Records of the Abbey of Rivaulx, which was located in the county of Yorkshire, in the year of 1200. This document was ordered, decreed, and written under the reign of one King John, who was known throughout the ages, and commonly referred to throughout history as the “Lackland.” King John I of England ruled from the year 1199 to the year 1216. Those who bear the surname of Carr can be found in the counties of Yorkshire, Durham, and Lancashire.

Scotland:

One of the first recorded spellings of the surname of Carr within the country of Scotland was one John Carr and Emilia Macullum, who were wed in the year of 1807 in Irvine Ayr, and Thomas Carr and Margaret Mar, who were also wed in Irvine, Ayr, in the year of 1809.

United States of America:

Those who are known by the surname of Carr can be found within the Unite States of America. They are found in the states of Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Carr: United States 135,001; England 30,394; Australia 11,672; Canada 9,985; South Africa 7,141; France 5,229; Ireland 3,123; Liberia 2,984; Scotland 2,711; Sierra Leone 2,675

Notable People:

David Michael Carr (1956-2015) who was an author, writer, and columnist for the New York Times from America

Catherine Carr who was born in the year 1954 and was an Olympic Athlete who competed in the sport of swimming in the 1972 Olympic Games and received two Gold Medals

Archie Fairly Carr (1909-1972) who was an ecologist and herpetologist from America who was also an early conservationist

Vikki Carr who was born in the year 1941 and whose birth name was Florencia Bisenta de Casillas Martinez Cardona and who was an entertainer who was awarded and American Grammy

Mary Carr who was Republican politician from America who ran for the Arizona State House of Representatives for the 23rd District in the year 1988

Michael Carr who was a Democratic Politician from America who served as the alternate delegate the Democratic National Convention from the state of Michigan in the year 1980

Mike Carr who was born in the year 1947 is a Republican politician from America who served as a Florida Delegate to the Republican National Convention in the year 2004

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Bristol). Gu. on a chev. ar. three estoiles sa. in chief a martlet or, charged with a crescent sa. Crest—A stag’s head ar. attired or, gorged with two bars gu. betw. the bars a martlet as in the arms.
2) (Tewkesbury, co. Gloucester). Ar. on a bend betw. three Cornish choughs sa. as many leopards’ heads of the field.
3) (Sleaford, co. Lincoln, and Lancashire). Gu. on a chev. or, three estoiles sa. Crest—A stag’s head ar. charged with two bars gemelles gu. attired or.
4) (borne by the Rev. Edmund Carr, rector of Quatt, co. Stafford, a descendant of the old border family of the name). Motto—Tout droit. Gu. on a chev. ar. three mullets sa. pierced. Crest—A stag’s head erased ppr.
5) (Northumberland). Gu. on a chev. ar. three estoiles sa. Crest—A stag’s head erased ppr. (another, couped).
6) (Beccles, co. Suffolk, and Enfield, co. Middlesex: John Carr, Esq., of those places d. s. p., when his sister Eleanor, wife of Arthur Walford, Esq., became his heiress). Sa. on a chev. betw. three mullets ot six points or, as many like mullets of the field.
7) (Scotland). (York and Bristol). Gu. on a chev. ar. three mullets sa.
8) Ar. on a bend sa. three boars’ heads erased or, in base a Cornish chough ppr. Crest—A lion’s head erased or.
9) Gu. on a chev. ar. betw. three bucks’ heads erased or, as many mullets of the field. Crest—A dexter arm erect couped below the wrist ppr. holding a dagger ar. hilt and pomel or.
10) Gu. a chev. ar. charged with three mullets of the field, in the chief quarter a lion pass. or.
11) Ar. on a chev. sa. three roses of the field.
12) (Newcastle, an old Northumbrian family). Motto—Est nulla fallacia. Or, on a bend betw. three Cornish choughs sa. as many lions’ heads erased of the field. Crest—A lion’s head erased or.
13) (Cocken, co. Durham). Gu. on a chev. ar. three estoiles sa. Same Crest and Motto.
14) (Ireland). Gu. on a chev. betw. three pheons ar. as many estoiles sa.
15) (Ireland, certified with the two quarterings of Carpenter and Welsh, by Betham, Ulster, to Rev. Thomas Carr, of Aghadoe, descended from Sir George Carr, clerk of the ccuncil of Munster, who was son of William Carr, Esq., of Southey Hall, co. York). Motto—Fida clavo. (Fun. Ent. of Ursula, dau. of Thomas Carr, son of Sir George Carr, co. York, d. 26 May, 1675). Az. a chev. betw. three estoiles ar. Crest—An estoile ar.
16) (Stackhouse in Giggleswick, co. York). Gu. on a chev. engr. ar. three mullets sa.
17) (on the monument of Dame Bridget Carr, co. York, 1621). Gu. on a chev. ar. three mullets sa.
18) (Viscount Somerset and Earl of Rochester, created Viscount 1611, and Earl 1613, d.s.p.m. 1645). Motto—Probitas sibi ipsi securitas. Gu. on a chev. ar. three mullets sa. in the dexter chief a lion pass. guard. or. Supporters—Dexter, a lion guard. gu.; sinister, a stag or, attired and hoofed ar. Crest—A stag’s head erased or, attired ar.
19) (Bishopwearmouth, orginally from Newcastle). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, as Carr, of Newcastle; 2nd and 3rd, gu. on a mount vert a swan ar. membered, collared, and chained or, for Dale. Crest—A lion’s head couped or.