Surname Carbery - Meaning and Origin

Carbery: What does the surname Carbery mean?

Carbery is an Irish surname of Gaelic origins, derived from the term "MacCarbry" which translates to "son of Carbery." The name Carbery itself is believed to be an anglicized form of the Gaelic name “O’Cairbre” meaning "charioteer". The Carbery family was historically known as a clan found primarily in the county of Cork, Ireland. It may also refer to an area known as 'Carbery' in West Cork, divided into East and West Carbery. Like many surnames, geographical location could have played a substantial role in the initial assignment of this name. Over the centuries, variations of this surname have evolved due to emigration and phonetic spelling. Keep in mind, the interpretations of the surname can slightly differ based on different sources.

Carbery: Where does the name Carbery come from?

The surname Carbery originates from Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic name "O'Cairbre," which means "descendant of Cairbre." The name Cairbre itself is ancient and was held by three different saints. The family hailing with this name first established themselves in County Mayo which is located in the West of the country.

Carbery is not an extremely common surname today, but it can still be found in the areas of its origins, notably in Ireland. However, like many Irish names, it has also spread around the world due to immigration, particularly during the Great Famine in the mid-19th century. Carberys can be found in various countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Despite this global dispersion, a significant number of people with the Carbery surname remain in Ireland, making it the most common location for this surname.

Variations of the surname Carbery

The surname Carbery originates from Ireland and has various spellings, variants and related surnames, which have developed over periods of time owing to different regional dialects, traditions, interpretations and translations.

Different spellings include Carberry, Carbury, Carbery, Kerbery, Kerberry, Kerbury, Karberry, and Karbery. These variations in spelling resulted from phonetic transliterations and sometimes due to Anglicization efforts. This is quite common in surnames derived from non-English-speaking countries.

Similarly, alternative spellings which were markedly used in 19th century records encompass Carbry, Carbray, and Carbrey.

Regarding related surnames, it could have ties with the surnames MacCarbery or MacCarberry, which commonly denotes 'son of Carbery,' a hereditary prefix practice in Irish and Scottish cultures. Further, the surname may also be associated with geographical areas like the Barony of Carbery in County Cork, Ireland.

Some of these variations may also be used as first names, which further increases the diversity in usage. Despite the myriad forms, all variants of the surname Carbery are believed to stem from the same root with common ancestral ties.

Famous people with the name Carbery

• Emma Carbery: Known as an author and British pioneer in Theosophy during the late 19th century.
• Joey Carbery: An Irish rugby union player. He plays as a fly-half, but sometimes as a fullback for Munster in Pro14 and the European Rugby Champions Cup.
• Justin Carbery: An Irish politician, member of the Fianna Fáil political party.
• Alfred Perceval Graves: Also known as A.P. Graves and A. Carbery, a well-known poet and songwriter in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Eliza Carbery: Born in the 19th century, this author used the pen name "Mrs. Ellen Carbery" and wrote numerous children's books.
• Dan Carbery: The late ice hockey player for the Clinton Comets of the Eastern Hockey League.
• Jack Carbery: A retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League.
• Anna Maria Carbery: An Irish novelist and writer known for her works about Irish history and folklore.
• John Carbery: An Irish cricketer who played for Ireland in 1938.
• Edel Carbery: A contemporary poet based in Ireland.
• James Carbery: A notable architect based in New York City in the early 20th century.

Other surnames

CarbenderCarberry