Surname Caroll - Meaning and Origin

Caroll: What does the surname Caroll mean?

The surname Caroll is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name "O'Cearbhaill," originating from Ireland. The "O" prefix means "descendant of," and the personal name "Cearbhaill" is derived from "Cearbh," which broadly means "hacking," implying a fierce warrior. So, the name Caroll can be interpreted to mean "descendant of the fierce warrior." It should be noted that this surname also has other possible origins, such as from the Norman personal name, Charles. Notable people with this surname include Lewis Carroll, the famous author of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." The surname Caroll is widely spread across English-speaking and Gaelic-speaking regions.

Caroll: Where does the name Caroll come from?

The surname Caroll is derived from the Gaelic name "Ó Cearbhaill," meaning "hacking with a weapon," and belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. The Caroll name originated in Ireland, and the family held a family seat from ancient times in the county of Tyrone, and were descended from Cearbhaill, Lord of Ely who was the Chief of Hy Many, an ancient Irish tribe.

The name can be found in various forms, such as Carroll, Carrell, Carrol, and others due to the way that Gaelic names were traditionally Anglicized. After the Middle Ages, it became common for an entire region to bear a single surname, and so the name Caroll is connected to certain areas of Ireland more than others.

Today, the name Caroll remains most common in Ireland, but due to emigration prompted by the Great Famine and other economic hardships, it is also widespread in countries like the United States, England, Australia, and Canada. Thus, the densest concentration of people named Caroll can be found in those countries.

Variations of the surname Caroll

The surname Caroll, also commonly seen as Carroll, has several variants and spellings that all trace back to the same general origin. Some of these alternatives include Carol, Caryl, Carrell, Carill, and Carrol. It is believed to be an anglicized form of the Irish name Ó Cearbhaill, which means "descendant of Cearbhall." Cearbhall is a personal name that is derived from the Gaelic word "cearbh," meaning hacking, which implies a fierce warrior.

In some cases, the surname could also be a derivation of the name Carl or Charles, depending on the location and population. The variant "Kerrol" is also found, especially in Scotland, where it is a habitational name for someone from the regions of Carroll in Aberdeenshire and Perthshire.

These surnames share the same phonetic qualities, making it likely that they were varied in spelling over time due to localization and shifting language patterns. It's not uncommon to see these names with additional prefixes or suffixes, such as McCarroll, O'Carroll or FitzCarroll, common in Irish culture to denote familial relations. Indeed, surname variants are often a window into cultural and linguistic history.

Famous people with the name Caroll

• Lewis Carroll: British author renowned for writing "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."
• Jason Carroll: American television news correspondent for CNN.
• Madeleine Carroll: British actress who was one of the biggest movie stars in the 1930's and 1940's.
• Pete Carroll: American football coach, currently the head coach and executive vice president of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks.
• Diahann Carroll: American actress, singer and model known for her work in television and film.
• Jim Carroll: American author, poet, and punk musician.
• Sidney Carroll: American television and film scriptwriter.
• Yvonne Carroll: American soul singer who had moderate success in the 1960s.
• Belinda Carroll: US comedian/actress, best known for her work in Portlandia and Grimm.
• Jonathan Carroll: American author primarily known for his fantasy literature.
• Charles Carroll:One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, known as the longest-lived and last surviving signers of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
• Paul Vincent Carroll: Irish dramatist and writer.
• Vincent Carroll: Canadian journalist, newspaper editor, and television presenter.
• Susan Carroll: American author of romance novels.

Other surnames

CarolCarolanCaroliCarolosCarolus