Contents [hide]

Carey History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies South Africa

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Carey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Carey

What does the name Carey mean?

The Irish name Carey originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Ciardha. 1 However, "Carey" and its spelling variations have also been used as the Anglicized forms of six other Irish patronymics: Ó Ceinin, Ó Ciarain, Mac Giolla Ceire, Ó Carra, Mac Giolla Chathair, and the nearly-extinct MacFhiachra.

Early Origins of the Carey family

The surname Carey was first found in the county of Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh), the former Kingdom of Osraige (Ossory), located in Southeastern Ireland in the province of Leinster. Today Cary is a barony in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Early History of the Carey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carey research. Another 174 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1300, 1620, 1761, 1784 and 1834 are included under the topic Early Carey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carey Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Carey were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Carrie, Carry, Carre, Carie, Carrey, MacCarry, MacHarry, MacHarris, O'Carey, Cary, M'Carrie, Kearey, Kearrie, Keerie, Keery, Keerey, M'Harrie, M'Harry, M'Hary, M'Harie and many more.

Early Notables of the Carey family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

Also, three famous brothers of the Carey name, John Carey, the inventor of the distress rocket for ships, went to London and taught school, becoming a most prolific writer, writing over 50 classics, i...
William Carey...

Carey World Ranking

In the United States, the name Carey is the 627^th most popular surname with an estimated 47,253 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Carey is ranked the 979^th most popular surname with an estimated 5,513 people with that name. 3 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Carey is the 674^th popular surname with an estimated 65 people with that name. 4 Australia ranks Carey as 388^th with 9,529 people. 5 New Zealand ranks Carey as 557^th with 1,264 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Carey as 542^nd with 11,962 people. 7

Carey migration to the United States +

To escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, thousands of Irish left their homeland in the 19th century. These migrants typically settled in communities throughout the East Coast of North America, but also joined the wagon trains moving out to the Midwest. Ironically, when the American War of Independence began, many Irish settlers took the side of England, and at the war's conclusion moved north to Canada. These United Empire Loyalists, were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Other Irish immigrants settled in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, however, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America and Australia. Many of those numbers, however, did not live through the long sea passage. These Irish settlers to North America were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Irish settlers made an inestimable contribution to the building of the New World. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name Carey or a variant listed above, including:

Carey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Sarah Carey, who landed in America in 1620 8
Brid Carey, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 8
Edward Carey, who landed in Virginia in 1652 8
William Carey, who settled in Virginia in 1653
Tho Carey, who landed in Virginia in 1653 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Peter Carey, who settled in Isle Grole in 1710
Edward Carey, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1766 8
Dennis Carey, who landed in America in 1795 8

Carey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Hugh Carey, who arrived in America in 1806 8
Richard Carey, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 8
Richard Y Carey, aged 24, who landed in South Carolina in 1812 8
Margaret Bell Carey, aged 40, who landed in Massachusetts in 1813 8
Michael Carey, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Carey Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Peter Carey, who settled in Isle Grole, Newfoundland, in 1710 9
Katha Carey, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Dennis Carey was a mason in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1771 9
Dennis Carey was on record in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1771 9
Mr. Thomas Carey U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carey Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Florance Carey, aged 25, who arrived in Canada in 1823
John Carey, who landed in Canada in 1823
Thomas Carey and his wife Esther settled in Quebec in 1825 with their eight children
Isaac Carey, who landed in Canada in 1828
William Carey, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1829
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carey migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Carey Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. John Carey, (b. 1752), aged 45, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years for felony, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1823 11

Carey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Catherine Carey, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Miss Mary Ann Carey, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. James Carey, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 6th April 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. John Carey, (Cary), (b. 1809), aged 14, Irish tailor who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Castle Forbes" on 28th September 1823, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1826 15
John Carey, a weaver, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carey migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Carey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Nicholas Carey, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Mr. G. Carey, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria aboard the ship "Drover" arriving in Invercargill, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1863 16
Mr. Thomas Carey, (b. 1818), aged 45, British shoemaker travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 16
Mrs. Emily Carey, (b. 1820), aged 43, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 16
Miss Emily Carey, (b. 1847), aged 16, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carey migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 17

Carey Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Richard Carey and his wife Elizabeth, who arrived in Barbados in 1680

Contemporary Notables of the name Carey (post 1700) +

Mariah Carey (b. 1970), American singer/songwriter who has won five Grammy Awards, nineteen World Music Awards, ten American Music Awards, and fifteen Billboard Music Awards, inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
Mary "Pepper" Carey (1925-1977), American utility infielder who played from 1946 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Jade Ashtyn Carey (b. 2000), American artistic gymnast who represented the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2024 Summer Olympics
Henry Charles Carey (1793-1879), American economist and publisher, born in Philadelphia; he published several influential volumes on American economic policy
Ian Carey (1975-2021), stage name of Ian Harshman, an American house DJ, musician, and record producer based in Miami, Florida United States
Paul Carey (1928-2016), American broadcaster and sportscaster, inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
Ron Carey (1935-2007), American film and television actor and a member of Mel Brooks' comedy troupe
Drew Carey (b. 1958), American comedian, actor, photographer, and game show host
Mathew Carey (1760-1839), Irish-born, American journalist and publisher
Clare Carey (b. 1967), American film and television actress
... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Carey family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Thomas Leslie Carey (1900-1941), Australian Chief Petty Officer Cook from Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 18
Mr. Henry Robert Joseph Carey (1921-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Black Rock, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 18

HMS Dorsetshire

David Haversham Carey, British Midshipman aboard the HMS Dorsetshire (1945) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 19

HMS Hood

Mr. Daniel A B Carey (b. 1902), Welsh Supply Assistant serving for the Royal Navy from Bedwellty, Monmouthshire, Wales, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 20
Mr. Arthur T Carey (b. 1900), English Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 20

USS Arizona

Mr. Francis Lloyd Carey, American Storekeeper Third Class from New York, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 21

Sources +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 2nd January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/castle-forbes
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html