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Irish surname

Carolan: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Cearbhalláin · 'descendant of Cearbhallán' (diminutive of Cearbhall)

Woulfe (1923) gives Carolan and O'Carolan as anglicised forms of Ó Cearbhalláin, 'a well-known Ulster surname', formerly common in Donegal, Tyrone, Monaghan and Cavan and also in Meath, and says there are probably several distinct families of the name. The harper Turlough O'Carolan, born in 1670 according to Webb, bore the name. In 1890 Ireland's birth indexes held 47 entries including spelling varieties (39 spelled Carolan), principally in Mayo and Cavan.

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Coat of arms associated with the Carolan surname
Irish formÓ Cearbhalláin
Meaning'descendant of Cearbhallán' (diminutive of Cearbhall)
CountiesCavan, Donegal, Tyrone, Monaghan
Other spellings6

Origin of the Carolan name

Woulfe: Ó Cearbhalláin, 'a well-known Ulster surname; formerly common in Donegal, Tyrone, Monaghan and Cavan; also in Meath. There are probably several distinct families of the name.' He says it is to be distinguished from Ó Coirealláin.[1]

  1. 1230Four Masters: Florence O'Carolan, Bishop of Tyrone, died in his eighty-sixth year.[6]
  2. 1293Four Masters: Florence O'Carolan, Bishop of Derry, died.[7]
  3. 1670Harper Turlough O'Carolan born at Nobber, County of Meath (Webb).[8]
  4. 189047 birth entries including spelling varieties (39 spelled Carolan); principally Mayo and Cavan.[3][4]

Where in Ireland

Co. CavanWoulfe: the name was formerly common here; a principal county for Carolan births in 1890.[1][3]
Co. DonegalWoulfe: the name was formerly common in Donegal.[1]
Co. TyroneWoulfe: the name was formerly common in Tyrone.[1]
Co. MonaghanWoulfe: the name was formerly common in Monaghan.[1]
Co. MeathWoulfe: found 'also in Meath'; Webb gives Turlough O'Carolan's birthplace as Nobber, County of Meath.[1][8]
Co. MayoNamed with Cavan for Carolan births in the 1890 index.[3]

Notable people named Carolan

Turlough O'Carolanb. 1670 (Webb); d. 1738 (Webb) or 1737 (Woulfe)Harper blinded by smallpox in infancy; an itinerant harper who composed many airs (Webb). Woulfe calls him 'the last of the bards'.[8][2]
Florence O'Caroland. 1230The Four Masters record a Florence O'Carolan, Bishop of Tyrone, 'a noble and select senior', dying in 1230 in his eighty-sixth year.[6]

Other spellings

O'Carolan · O Carowlane · Carrolan · Carolin · Carollan · Carrolin[1][8]

The Carolan coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Carolan surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Carolan crest gifts

Clan Ocarolan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap CN26 Ocarolan Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Ocarolan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Ocarolan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapDZ94 Classic Cap - Ocarolan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Ocarolan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Carolan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapAR19 Classic Cap - Carolan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Carolan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Carolan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap NX39 Carolan Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Carolan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Carolan surname: questions

What does the surname Carolan mean?

Woulfe gives Carolan as a form of Ó Cearbhalláin, 'descendant of Cearbhallán', a diminutive of the personal name Cearbhall.[1]

Is Carolan the same as O'Carolan?

Yes. Woulfe lists O Carolan, Carolan and Carrolan as anglicised forms of the same Irish surname, Ó Cearbhalláin.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Carolan name from?

Woulfe calls it a well-known Ulster surname, formerly common in Donegal, Tyrone, Monaghan and Cavan, and also in Meath. In 1890 Carolan births were principally found in Mayo and Cavan.[1][3]

Who was Turlough O'Carolan?

A harper born at Nobber, Co. Meath, in 1670 according to Webb, who was blinded by smallpox in infancy and became an itinerant harper and composer. Woulfe calls him 'the last of the bards'.[8][2]

Sources

  1. Ó Cearbhalláin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-cearbhallain.php
  2. Mac Diarmada Ruadh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macd/mac-diarmada-ruadh.php
  3. Carolan — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/carolan.php
  4. Table Explanation — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/table-explanation.php
  5. Carolan — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/245.php
  6. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1227–1230 (part 6) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005C/text006.html
  7. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1293–1300 (part 13) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005C/text013.html
  8. Turlough O'Carolan — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/TurloughOCarolan.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).