This interesting name is of early medieval English origin and is an occupational name for a carrier, a porter, someone who transported goods. The derivation is from the Old French "car(r)ier", introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066. The word is derived from the latin "Carrarius", itself from "Carrum", cart, wagon. The development of the surname has included Roger le Cariour (1332, Lancashire), John Kerrear (1379, Yorkshire) and Richarde Cariar (1559, London). The modern surname can be found as Carrier or Carryer. One Zachary Carryer was married to Elizabeth Gladdis on the 31st of May 1644 at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, while on the 14th of February 1659, Mabell Carrier and Adam Holland's marriage was recorded at St. Mary's at Hill, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert de Carier, which was dated 1332, in the "Cumberland Subsidy Rolls", during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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