Surname McCarroll - Meaning and Origin

McCarroll: What does the surname McCarroll mean?

The last name McCarroll originates from Scotland and Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic Mac Carrghail, which translates to "son of Carrghail." The meaning of Carrghail is unclear, but it is believed to mean "rough strength" or "rough warrior."

Those who bear the McCarroll surname are descended from a strong and brave Celtic family that migrated to Scotland and Ireland around the 11th century. The name has various origins and spellings, such as MacCarroll, McRolle, and MacCarrel, as well as many others. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the McCarroll surname was Gilbert McCarrol, who was a witness to a document in 1534 in Scotland.

McCarrolls were known for their loyalty and have a rich history of serving their communities and countries. Throughout the centuries, many involved in politics, military service, and other various professions stemmed from the McCarroll lineage, showing their strength, courage, and determination.

The McCarrolls are a proud and diverse group, with individuals of different religions and backgrounds and they have also been successful in business and the arts. The McCarroll surname is an important piece of Scotland and Ireland’s heritage, and it is a reminder of the courage and strength of their ancestors.

McCarroll: Where does the name McCarroll come from?

The last name McCarroll is commonly found in parts of Europe, especially areas with a Scottish or Irish heritage. In Scotland, the name is especially prominent in the Highlands, with records of McFarlands and McNeill-McCarrolls from as far back as the 1500s. In Ireland, the name McCarroll is seen primarily in Ulster, mainly in Monaghan, Armagh, Donegal, and Fermanagh counties.

Outside of Europe, the name can be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, although these occurrences are mostly due to Irish or Scottish immigrants in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Records of the name can also be found in South Africa due to British influence in the country.

Today, the last name McCarroll is becoming increasingly rare outside of Europe, as many individuals choose to take on the mother’s maiden name in a household, or adopt a hyphenated last name. Those who have kept the name can be found in the above-mentioned countries as well as in South America, Asia, and Africa.

Variations of the surname McCarroll

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname McCarroll can vary greatly. McCarroll, or MacCarroll, is an anglicised form of the Irish Gaelic ‘MacCearbhaill’ meaning ‘son of Cearbhall’. Initially, the Gaelic form would have been the name given to families and individuals associated with the townlands of ‘MacCearbhaill’ in Northern Ireland. Over time, the surname has also been spelt differently, such as MacCarroll, MacCarvill, MacCarvillle, McCarvell, McCarville, McCarvill, MacCarvell, MacCarvalle, Macarroll, Macarvlle, McArvalle, McCarvel, McCarrel, McCorrell, MacArvill, and McKerroll. However, based on the manuscript evidence currently available, the most commonly found spellings are McCarroll and MacCarroll, although this may vary depending on the region.

In the 1800s, the McCarroll surname was most common in Ulster, particularly in the counties of Tyrone and Antrim, but the surname is now found throughout Ireland and the rest of the world. It is worth noting that, in some instances, the ‘Mc’ part of the surname may have been dropped altogether. For example, a variant of MacCarroll, such as ‘Carrol’ or ‘Carroll’, may be the only evidence available in some instances.

Other surnames that share a similar origin with McCarroll include MacCormack, MacCawell, McCawell, McComack, MacCreesh, McCreesh, MacCrea, McCrea, MacCross, McCross, MacClarren, McClarren, MacCurly, McCurly, MacCurragh, MacRiabhach, MacSorley, MacGorley, MacGerrity, MacGorman, Magarvey, and Magerty. In terms of spelling variants, many of these names have the prefix ‘Mc’ added or removed, and some words may appear differently depending on the region.

Famous people with the name McCarroll

• Malcolm McCarroll: professional basketball player in the National Basketball League of Australia.
• Brother Dolf McCarroll: American fashion designer and celebrity stylist.
• Sinéad McCarroll: Irish actress best known for her roles in the TV series Mrs. Brown's Boys and Ripper Street.
• Mike McCarroll: Canadian ice hockey player in the National Hockey League.
• Malachi McCarroll: British actor best known for his roles in the Christmas TV film Nativity! and the TV series Skins.
• Tom McCarroll: English footballer currently playing in the Scottish Professional Football League for Livingston.
• Michael McCarroll: American record producer, engineer and songwriter known for producing music for artists like Mary J. Blige and John Legend.
• Karl McCarroll: Northern Irish international footballer who currently plays for Oxford United in England.
• C.J. McCarroll: American NASCAR driver best known for competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
• Dell McCarroll: American actor and stuntman with credits in various films and TV shows like Desperate Housewives.

Other surnames

McCarrolMcCarron