CARTER
Carter is an English surname of occupational origin, historically associated with the craft and use of carts and wagons. The name is recorded in the British Isles from the late twelfth century and is principally linked to England, where the language of its bearers was English and the prevailing religion was Christianity.
The principal derivation of the surname is from the Middle English term cart(e), itself rooted in a complex network of linguistic sources. One line traces back to the Celtic word cairt meaning “cart”. Another line follows the Latin carettarius, derived from carrum, while a further influence comes from Old Norman French caretier (surviving in the modern French surname Cartier). A Norse contribution is evident in the Old Norse kartr, and an Anglo‑Saxon element appears as Old English craet. These diverse strands converged in the medieval occupational name “cartier”, denoting a maker or driver of carts.
In some cases the surname may also reflect a personal name, a medieval given name meaning “one who uses a cart”. Regardless of the precise route, the surname invariably signals an ancestor who was engaged in the transportation of goods, either as a vehicle maker or as a carrier.
Historical documentary evidence confirms the early presence of the name. Rannulf le Caretier appears in the Pipe Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1192‑1193, and Nicholas le Carter is listed in the Oxfordshire Hundred Rolls of 1273. Parish records from the sixteenth century record baptisms, marriages and christenings of individuals bearing the name in London, such as Edmond, son of James Carter (baptised 6 September 1549) and Agnes Carter (christened January 1556). A notable bearer, Robert Carter, sailed on the Mayflower in 1620, linking the surname to the early settlement of New England.
The family’s heraldic tradition includes an early coat of arms displaying two gold lions rampant combatant on a black shield, a motif that underscores the longstanding status of the Carter lineage within English society.
Typical given names associated with the Carter surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Julie
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Carretero
- Carder
- Crater
- Carte
- Carpter
- Carster
- Cartar
- Cartee
- Cartei
- Carteret
- Cartern
- Carteron
- Carterr
- Carters
- Carterton
- Carther
- Carthers
- Carthery
- Cartier
- Cartir
- Cartmer
- Cartner
- Cartor
- Carttar
- Cartter
- Carturan
- Caughter
- Caurtier
- Cauter
- Chorter
- Chorters
- Corter
- Courter
- Courtier
- Crawter
- Crter
- Cuartero
- Curter
- Kartar
- Karter
- Kauter
- Kurter
- Cartel
- Cartle
- Chartier
- Cotter
- Cratree
- Creter
- Kartari
- Kotter
- Carthew
- Cordier
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Carter in...
Braille
⠉⠁⠗⠞⠑⠗
Morse
-.-..-.-.-..-.
Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Carter are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Ginger Nut.
There are approximately 91,186 people named Carter in the UK. That makes it the 65th most common surname in Britain. Around 1,400 in a million people in Britain are named Carter.
Surname type: Occupational name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Carter
- Helena Bonham Carter - Actor
- Shawn Corey Carter - American rapper, businessman, entrepreneur, record executive, songwriter, record producer and invest
- Jim Carter - Actor
- Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. - American rapper, singer, record executive and businessman
- Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter - American singer, songwriter and actress
- Howard Carter - Egyptologist (1874 to 1939)
- Jimmy Carter - American politician, 39th President of the United States
- Angela Carter - Novelist (1940 to 1992)
- Jordan Terrell Carter - American rapper, songwriter, speaker of god
- Cameron Carter-Vickers - Football player
- Nick Carter - Senior British Army officer
- Aaron Carter - American singer
- Vince Carter - American basketball player
- Nick Carter - American musician and singer
- Ash Carter - United States Secretary of Defense
- Ali Carter - Snooker player
- Daniel P. Carter - Musician and DJ
- Barry Eugene Carter - American singer-songwriter (1944 to 2003)
- Raymond Bonham Carter - Banker (1929 to 2004)
- Violet Bonham Carter - Politician (1887 to 1969)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.