Show ContentsCarmody History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Carmody family

The surname Carmody was first found in Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat as the O'Carmody, Chiefs of Ireland. Irish history was greatly influenced by the Norman invasion of 1172, and thereafter, the surnames of Irish Gaelic clanns and septs and many of the Norman families became almost indistinguishable. This family name was found later in South Munster and in Galway.

Early History of the Carmody family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carmody research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1888 is included under the topic Early Carmody History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carmody Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Carmody, Kermody, O'Carmody, O'Kermody and others.

Early Notables of the Carmody family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

  • the O'Carmodys of Clare

Carmody Ranking

In the United States, the name Carmody is the 6,276th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in Australia, the name Carmody is ranked the 952nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,170 people with that name. 2


Carmody migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Carmody Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Richard J Carmody, who arrived in New York in 1842 3
  • Daniel Carmody, who settled in America in 1852
  • James Carmody, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1854 3
  • Anne Carmody, who settled in New York sometime between 1858 and 1859
  • Ann Carmody, who settled in Tennessee sometime between 1862 and 1869
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Carmody Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Catherine Carmody, who settled in Vermont sometime between 1835 and 1916
  • Bridget A. Carmody, who arrived in Vermont sometime between 1865 and 1929
  • Daniel F. Carmody, who arrived in Vermont sometime between 1857 and 1941

Carmody migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Carmody Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Miss. Catherine Carmody, aged 7 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Lord Sandon" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 4
  • Mr. Edward Carmody, aged 24 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Free Trader" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 4
  • Miss. Mary Carmody, aged 7 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Lord Sandon" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 4
  • Miss. Ellen Carmody who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Lord Sandon" departing 11th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th June 1847 but she died on board 5
  • Alice Carmody, who settled in New Brunswick in 1867
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carmody migration to Australia +

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

Carmody Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Daniel Carmody, Irish carter who was convicted in County Kerry, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Brampton" on 8th November 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
  • Miss Mary Carmody, (b. 1824), aged 13, Irish childs maid who was convicted in Limerick, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Diamond" on 29th November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
  • Mr. John Carmody, (b. 1808), aged 35, Irish labourer who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for desertion from the army and striking an officer, transported aboard the "Constant" on 9th May 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
  • John Carmody, aged 48, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1851 9
  • Ellen Carmody, aged 26, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1851 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Carmody 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:

Carmody Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Carmody, aged 32, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1875
  • Johanna Carmody, aged 28, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1875
  • John Carmody, aged 26, a farm labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hannibal" in 1875
  • Patrick Carmody, aged 24, a farm labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hannibal" in 1875
  • James Carmody, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waimea" in 1876

Contemporary Notables of the name Carmody (post 1700) +

  • Don Carmody, American film producer
  • Robert John Carmody (1938-1967), American Olympic boxer
  • Connor Carmody (b. 1997), American actor
  • Bill Carmody (b. 1951), American college basketball coach
  • Art Carmody (b. 1984), American college football kicker
  • Kevin Daniel "Kev" Carmody (b. 1946), Australian singer-songwriter
  • Isobelle Carmody (b. 1958), Australian author of science fiction and children’s books


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  3. 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)
  4. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 17)
  5. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 68)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Brampton
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Diamond
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/constant
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PRINCE REGENT 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851PrinceRegent.htm


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