|
| |
 One of the 25 most common Irish surnames,
Carroll comes, in the vast majority of cases,
from the Irish O Cearbhaill, from Cearbhall a very popular personal
name thought to mean "fierce in battle". It is wide spread
today throughout Connacht, Leinster and Munster, reflecting the fact
that it arose almost simultaneously as a separate surname in a least 6
different parts of Ireland. The most famous of these were the Ely O'
Carrolls of Uibh Fhaili, including modern Co. Offaly as well as parts
of Tipperary, who derived their name from Cearhall, king of Ely, one
of the leaders of the victorious native Irish army at the battle of
Clontarf in 1040. Although their power was much reduced over the
centuries in the continuing conflict with the Norman Butlers, they
held on to their distinctive Gaelic way of life until the start of the
17th Century.
|
 |
|
