The surname Carroll is of Irish origin.The name is an anglicization of the Gaelic personal name Cearbhall.The name is of uncertain origin,perhaps originally a byname for a butcher or a fierce warrior,from ‘cearbh’ hacking.The Carroll family of Ireland retained its Gaelic way of life and its distinct independence until the end of the sixteenth century,and its activities are frequently recorded in the Annals of that country.They claim that they derive their name from O’Cearbhaill from Cearbhal,lord of Ely,who was one of the leaders of the victorious army at Clontarf (1014),and thus descend from King Oilioll Olum.The battle of Clontarf was the battle which finally broke the power of the Norsemen (or Danes as they are commonly called).King Oilioll Olum was one of the greatest kings of independant Ireland.A signatory of the American Declaration of Independance bore this name,Charles Carroll (1737-1832).The first Catholic bishop in America bore this name,John Carroll (1735-1815),as did the first Archbishop of Baltimore,Anthony Carroll (1722-1794).Another famous American to bear this name is that of James MacCarroll…
Coat of arms: Argent two lions combatant gules suporting a sword of …