Carroll is a surname and given name of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Cearbhaill, which means "descendant of Cearbhaill". The personal name Cearbhaill is derived from the Irish word "carraig", meaning "rock" or "crag".
The Carroll family was one of the most powerful and influential families in Ireland during the Middle Ages. They were known as the Kings of Desmond, ruling over a large territory in southwestern Ireland. The Carrolls were also associated with the Catholic Church, with many members serving as bishops and abbots.
The name Carroll has been used as a given name since the 19th century. It became popular in English-speaking countries such as England, Scotland, Canada, and the United States during this time. Today, Carroll is still used as both a surname and a given name, with its popularity varying by country.
Some famous people with the name Carroll include:
* Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, was an English writer, mathematician, logician, and photographer best known for his novel "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"
* Jim Carroll (1950-2009), was an American rock musician, poet, and author
* Carroll Shelby (1923-2012), was an American automotive designer, racing driver, and entrepreneur
Based on the statistics provided for the name Carroll in the United States from 1880 to 2023, we can observe several trends:
From 1880 to around 1960, the number of births with the name Carroll fluctuated between a low of 26 (in 1880) and a high of 874 (in 1934), with a general upward trend over this period.
However, from the mid-1960s onwards, there was a significant decrease in the popularity of the name Carroll. In 1965, there were 177 births with this name, and by 2023, this number had decreased to just 8 births.
Overall, between 1880 and 2023, there were a total of 35,431 births with the name Carroll in the United States. This shows that while the name may not be as popular today as it once was, it has still been given to a significant number of children over the past century and a half.
It's interesting to note that despite its decline in popularity, the name Carroll remains unique and has maintained a steady presence throughout history. It may not be as common as some other names, but it continues to be chosen by parents for their children.