900 Global CAROLL Family Members

CAROLL Family History

Originally recorded as MacCarroll, O'Carroll, and since the 17th century usually Caroll or Carroll, this ancient surname is Irish. It originates from the 12th century Gaelic surnames Mac Cearbhaill or O'Cearbhaill. Both Mac and O' have similar meanings of male descent and relationship, although arguably Mac refers only to "son of" and O' only to "descendant of". The personal name Cearbhall was probably a byname for a fierce warrior, deriving from the word "cearbh", meaning to hack! There were originally two distincts septs of MacCarroll and no less than six of O'Carroll, but today they are largely intermixed in the counties of Kerry, Offaly, Monaghan, Tipperary, Leitrim and Louth...