Carey — Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: O Ciardha
Meaning: 'descendant of Ciardha, from ciar meaning dark or black'
Traditional stronghold: Kildare, Westmeath
Pronunciation: KAIR-ee; Irish O Ciardha: oh KEER-huh
History of the Carey name
O Ciardha, anglicised Carey, named a sept centred in the barony of Carbury in County Kildare, on the border with Westmeath and Offaly, where the family were recognised chiefs into the medieval period. A distinct sept of similar form existed in west Munster. The name's root, ciar, meaning dark or black-haired, was a common personal descriptor giving rise to related surnames such as Kerr and Keary in other contexts. The O prefix was dropped in most modern usage, and Carey became a fairly widespread midlands and Munster surname. It was carried extensively abroad through emigration and is well known today in Britain, the United States and elsewhere among Irish diaspora communities.
Variants: O'Carey · Keary · Carrey
Famous bearers of the name
- Jim Carrey — Canadian-American actor and comedian of Irish descent
- Mariah Carey — American singer with Irish ancestry
- Hugh Carey — American politician, Governor of New York, of Irish descent
- Peter Carey — Australian novelist of Irish heritage
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Daly · Dillon · Nugent · Scully · Coffey · Bermingham · Aylmer · Behan