Surname Carnahan - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling the Tapestry of My Carnahan Ancestry Through iGENEA's DNA Analysis
iGENEA provided a comprehensive DNA analysis that transformed my understanding of the family name Carnahan. Tracing back to Scotland, with additional roots in Northern Europe and Scandinavia, the entire process revealed a diverse heritage intertwined with Celtic, Germanic, and Norse genes.
A. Carnahan
read moreCarnahan: What does the surname Carnahan mean?
The last name Carnahan is of Scottish origin and is derived from the personal name "Cearnachan," which in turn is a diminutive of the Gaelic word "ceannach," meaning "vend" or "buyer." This origin suggests that the Carnahan family could have been merchants or traveling traders.
In modern times, the Carnahans are mostly found in Ireland, Scotland, and Northern England, and are considered a very old family with a long history. The Carnahans are believed to have been driven over to Ireland after the invasion of the 11th and 12th centuries. In Scotland, the Carnahan family is said to be from the province of East Lothian.
The Carnahans have longstanding ties with many different trades including that of carpenters, joiners, weavers, shoe makers, butchers, and cobblers. It appears that the name has been passed down from generation to generation, as the same first names reappear in family records over many centuries.
The Carnahan family motto is "Ah Wer Kleyner," which translates to "We are Little." This phrase is a reminder to many Carnahans to stay humble and honor their family's roots. The Carnahans are a proud and ancient family, and nothing makes them prouder than to see members of their family succeed and remember their heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisCarnahan: Where does the name Carnahan come from?
The last name Carnahan is most commonly found today in the United States and Canada, though there are small populations in other countries worldwide. In the United States, the name Carnahan is most heavily concentrated in the Midwest and South Central regions, particularly in states like Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, and Missouri. The largest concentrations of Carnahans are found in Minnesota, Ohio, and Arkansas.
In the United States, Carnahan is a primarily English surname, likely derived from the phrase "carré-Han" which means "rock or stone house". The original bearer of the name was an ancestor who lived in a stone house.
In Canada, the last name Carnahan is concentrated in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Canadian Carnahans likely have their roots in Scotland, where the name originated from the French-Norman "de Carnahun" family.
Given the United States and Canada's diverse immigration histories, it's likely that many Carnahans in other countries have ancestors from these two countries. Additionally, there are people with the last name Carnahan in other countries including Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
Variations of the surname Carnahan
The surname Carnahan is an Irish-American patronymic surname which is derived from the Gaelic O’Ceardnach, meaning "descendant of Ceardnach." Variations of the name can include Carnaghan, Carnihan, Karnahan, Kernighan, Cernigan, Curnagin, Curnaghan, Carnyhan, Cardnighan, and Carnehan. In some cases, there is the double name Carnahan-McGee, which is of Scottish-Irish descent, meaning that the family was Celtic noble.
The earlier spellings of Carnahan were recorded as Kearnegan in County Cork, Ireland in 1659, and Carnaghan in County Clare, Ireland in 1667. Surnames evolved through the centuries, often with distinct spellings or variations of the original name, with some becoming extinct and others changing pronunciation over time.
Though the name originated in Ireland, today it is found in a number of other countries, including Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and America. In the United States, the 2000 U.S. Census found that there were over 9,000 people with Carnahan as their surname, with Ohio and Pennsylvania having the largest concentration of individuals with the name.
The Carnahan name is a symbol of strength and resilience, having persevered for centuries in a variety of locales. With its variants, spellings, and surnames, the Carnahan name is an integral part of the Irish-American history and culture.
Famous people with the name Carnahan
- Pat Carnahan: Pat Carnahan is a politician from Missouri who serves as the state's auditor. He is a member of the Carnahan family, which has held several prominent offices in the state including governor, U.S. senator, lieutenant governor and Speaker of the House.
- Mel Carnahan: Mel Carnahan was the 44th Governor of Missouri, serving from 1993 to 2000. He was the first post-war Governor of Missouri to be reelected. He was also the first Missouri governor to be killed in office, dying in a plane crash in October 2000, months before his second term was set to begin.
- Jean Carnahan: Jean Carnahan was appointed to replace her late husband, Mel Carnahan as the U.S. Senator from Missouri after his tragic death in 2000. She served in the 109th United States Congress from 2001 to 2002, where she earned national recognition for her work in promoting universal health care and expanding access to health insurance in Missouri.
- Russ Carnahan: Russ Carnahan is the son of Mel and Jean Carnahan. He served as a U.S. Representative from Missouri's 3rd congressional district from 2005 to 2013. He is currently the CEO of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- Roger Carnahan: Roger Carnahan is the brother of Mel and Jean Carnahan, and the uncle of Russ Carnahan. He was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives from 1981 to 1996, and served as the Speaker of the Missouri House during his last term.
- Stephen Carnahan: Stephen Carnahan is the son of Pat and Leigh Ann Carnahan, and the nephew of Mel, Jean and Roger Carnahan. He is a member of the Missouri House of Representatives from his home district in the St. Louis suburb of Downtown Clayton.
- Tal Carnahan: Tal Carnahan is the son of Pat Carnahan. He is an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose films have premiered at many film festivals around the world, including the Toronto International Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival.