Surname Cary - Meaning and Origin

Emotional Journey through Genes: My Experience with iGENEA and the Cary Legacy

Exploring my lineage through the iGENEA DNA test was an emotional journey. While opening new doors and unravelling secrets hidden in my genetic code, it refined my perspective about my family and the deep legacy of my surname, Cary, giving it a renewed meaning and strength, intensifying my sense of identity and belonging.

S. Cary

Cary: What does the surname Cary mean?

The surname Cary is of English origin and is derived from a geographical location. Its origins can be traced back to the villages of Cary or Kari as it was listed in the 1086 Domesday Book, located in the county of Somerset, England. The name itself is believed to mean "pleasant stream" derived from the Celtic word "Cara", meaning "pleasant" and the Saxon term "Eye or Ea" meaning "water" or "stream". Therefore, individuals with the surname Cary likely have ancestors hailing from this region of England. Over time, variants of the surname have emerged, including Carew, Carey, and others. Despite its geographical connection, the surname also became popular among Irish immigrants, with Carey serving as an Anglicized version of several Gaelic names. It's interesting to note that Cary is equally common as a given name and a surname.

Cary: Where does the name Cary come from?

The surname Cary is of English origin. It's believed to have derived from a place name in Somerset, a county in southwestern England. The name Cary possibly comes from the Celtic word "kari", which means love or stream. Alternatively, it might have originated from Gaelic "ceathramh", meaning a quarter (of land) or it may have come from an Old English pre 7th century word "Ceorra Leah", meaning "Cearra's clearing".

This surname has several variations such as Carry, Carrey, Kerry, and others. During the British colonial era, the name spread across various parts of the world, especially to English-speaking countries. Today, it is commonly found in the United States, England, Canada, and Australia.

In literature, the name Cary became well-known due to Elizabeth Cary, Lady Falkland, a prominent English poet and dramatist from the early 17th century. Moreover, it's also associated with Cary Grant, a famous British-born American actor. Despite the surname's spread across the globe today, its stronghold remains in the southwestern region of England, where it originally arose.

Variations of the surname Cary

The surname Cary is of Irish and English origin. It is derived from an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname "Ó Ciardha," which means "descendant of the dark one". It can also be sourced to a location name in England, derived from the River Cary in Somerset.

In addition to Cary, there are several variant spellings and close relatives of this last name. The English variants include Carey, Carrey, and Carry. In Ireland, where the name originated, it often appeared as Keary, Kearey, or O'Keary to signify its Gaelic roots.

There are also related surnames that have evolved from Cary or share a common source. Caryl, Caryll, Carie, Cariee, and Caris are some examples. The surname Macaree is another Irish form that shares a similar lineage.

Surnames associated with Cary through marriage or familial alliances include those like Parry, Barry, or Perry. These carry similar phonetics but are not essentially of the same origin.

Remember that surnames, and their spellings, can vary greatly being influenced by factors such as geographic location, literacy level of the bearers and local pronunciation. This means there may be many other forms of the name Cary we have not listed.

Famous people with the name Cary

• Joyce Cary: An Irish novelist and artist, best known for his trilogy of novels published between 1941 and 1949.
• James Cary: A British comedy writer and sitcom scriptwriter of "Miranda" and "Bluestone 42".
• Max Cary: A renowned British historian, specialized in Ancient Greece history.
• Clive Cary: A South African cricketer.
• Tristram Cary: A British-Australian soundtrack composer known for his work on popular science fiction series like "Doctor Who".
• Virginia Cary Hudson: An American author who gained posthumous fame for her book "O Ye Jigs & Juleps!"
• Alice Cary: An American poet and the sister of fellow poet, Phoebe Cary.
• Phoebe Cary: A famed American poet and sister of Alice Cary.
• Mary Cary: An American activist and politician, first African American woman to be elected to the Virginia Senate.
• Henry Francis Cary: An English author and translator, most known for his translation of Dante's "Divine Comedy".
• Lucius Cary: A 17th century English philosopher and politician, also known as Viscount Falkland.
• Jennifer Cary: An American jewelry designer.
• William de Carie: A generic name spelling variant for Cary, was a Canadian professional hockey player.

Other surnames

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