Carey (surname)

Carey is a surname/last name originating from North West Europe: specifically Normandy and Ireland. The surname shares its origins with other similar surnames, including (but not limited to): Cary, Carrey, Carew, Kari, Karry and Kary.

Origins

The earliest definitive origins link Carey to Normandy in present day France, and see it derived from the word Kari, meaning "pleasant stream" in Celtic, which was prominent in the area prior to the spread of the Roman Empire and the various Germanic tribes. The earliest recorded Carey ancestor from this area was Adam de Kari, a knight lord who served under William the Conqueror and arrived in Britain shortly after the Norman invasion of 1066. It is possible that the ancestors of Adam de Kari came from the Manor of Carrey in Lisieux, although this remains unproven.

The Irish Carey surname originated from one or more clans, including the O'Ciardhas of Kildare (or "Killkenny" in some records). As with many surnames throughout the world, time and phonetic spelling saw the surname of this origin splinter into a variety of spellings, some of which are compatible with the Carey/Cary surname group.

Evolution in Britain

From the 11th century, when the Norman Careys arrived, through to present day, the surname underwent a variety of changes in spelling. Some branches retained a given derivation, while others adopted a new permutation for one of many reasons.

For many individuals in Great Britain who inherited the Carey surname, the exact origins of their family name are impossible to discern. The steady arrival of the Irish Careys from the medieval period onwards, the use of phonetic spelling, and the diverse range of spellings of the name, mean that the two branches have become largely indistinguishable from one-another.

Migration to North America

Most North American Careys encounter less difficulty in establishing the origins of their surname. Many are able to trace their family origins back to Ireland via one of the several waves of emigration there throughout the centuries. Given that the movement of Careys from Ireland has been almost exclusively one way (outbound), this significantly reduces the dilemma over the origin of their surname.

Careys on the Channel Islands

While the descendants of the Norman Careys had notable but limited influence on British aristocracy, other Carey descendants who travelled to the Channel Islands off the north west coast of France gained and retained significant influence on their surroundings.

Heraldry Information

The following heraldry information pertains to the British Carey line whose origins stem from Normandy. The heraldry for the Channel Island Careys is very similar:
* Coat of Arms: Argent on a bend Sable three roses of the first barbed and seeded proper in the sinister chief point a Crescent Sable. And for the crest on a wreath of the colours, A swan Argent wings endorsed charged on the body with a crescent as in the Arms. [ [http://www.careyroots.com/crest.html The Arms and Crest of the Carey Family] ]
* Surname motto: "Sine Macula" ("Without Blemish" in Norman, "Without Stain" in Latin)

Careys/Carys of Prominence

* Adam de Kari, lord serving under William the Conqueror
* Sir Robert Cary, a knight lord serving under Henry V
* William Carey (courtier), married to Mary Boleyn, sister of Anne Boleyn
* Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon, soldier and diplomat, and son of Mary Boleyn (rumoured to be an illegitimate son of Henry VIII of England)
* Henry Carey (writer), alleged composer of "God Save the King/Queen"
* George Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury
* William Carey (missionary), a founding member of the Baptist Missionary Society
* Harry Carey, American character actor in films, mostly westerns
* Harry Carey Jr, like his father, Carey is a character actor in films, and on television
* Mariah Carey, contemporary pop and R&B singer
* Jim Carrey, contemporary comedian
* Drew Carey, contemporary comedian
* Danny Carey, drummer for progressive rock band Tool

References

External links

* http://www.careyroots.com/
* http://www.careygenealogyhub.com/history.asp