CARBERRY Family History

This interesting surname is of Scottish and Irish origin, and has two possible sources. Firstly, it may be locational from a place in the parish of Inveresk, Lothian, first recorded in the form "Crebarrin", derived from the Gaelic "craobh", tree and "barran", hedge. Locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. Secondly, it may be an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "O'Cairbre" and "MacCairbre", meaning "descendant" and "son of Cairbre", a byname perhaps meaning "charioteer".