Show ContentsCarraway History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Carraway

What does the name Carraway mean?

The name Carraway belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived on a road near a field or piece of land that was triangular in shape. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English words gara, meaning "triangular piece of land," and weg, meaning "path" or "road."

Early Origins of the Carraway family

The surname Carraway was first found in Herefordshire at Garway, a parish, in the union of Monmouth, Lower division of the hundred of Wormelow. 1 2

One of the first records of the family was Walter de Garewy who was listed there in 1228. A few years later, William and Walter Garwy were listed in Essex in 1236 and later in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1327. John Gorewy was listed in the Assize Rolls for Kent in 1317. 3

Early History of the Carraway family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carraway research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1575, 1595, 1617, 1639, 1646, 1661, 1679, 1681, 1685, 1689 and 1701 are included under the topic Early Carraway History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carraway Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Carraway include Garroway, Garreway, Carroway, Garraway, Carraway and others.

Early Notables of the Carraway family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Henry Garraway (1575-1646), an English merchant in London, member of the Worshipful Company of Drapers, Lord Mayor of London in 1639. He was the son of Sir William Garraway, Chief Farmer of the Customs, and his wife, Elizabeth Anderton, was baptised in London at the church of St. Peter-le-Poer, Broad Street, 17 April 1575. He was one of seventeen...
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Carraway Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carraway Ranking

In the United States, the name Carraway is the 5,589th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Carraway family to Ireland

Some of the Carraway family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Carraway migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Carraway were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Carraway Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Joan Carraway, aged 22, who landed in Virginia in 1635 5
  • Miss Joan Carraway, (b. 1613), aged 22, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Constance" arriving in Virginia in 1635 6
  • Joane Carraway, who arrived in Virginia in 1641 5
  • Jon Carraway, who arrived in Virginia in 1642 5
  • Joann Carraway, who landed in Virginia in 1644 5
Carraway Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Isaac Carraway, who arrived in Texas in 1835 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Carraway (post 1700) +

  • Amanda Renae Carraway (b. 1978), American actress, known for Studio 666 (2005) and Who's Your Daddy? (2004)
  • Bob Carraway, American actor, known for Soldier Blue (1970), Days of Our Lives (1965) and Gammera the Invincible (1966)
  • James Carraway, American actor and producer, known for Zodiac (2007), Parker (2013) and Patch Adams (1998)
  • Andrew Donnelly Carraway (b. 1986), American professional baseball pitcher
  • Ruth Carraway (b. 1970), English actress, known for Grange Hill (1978), Living with Technology: A Foundation Course-Patterns in the Dust (1991) and Prime Suspect: The Scent of Darkness (1995)


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm


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