This Scottish locational name derives from 'The Lands of Cargill' a parish in East Perthshire, and being first recorded in the 13th Century. The name means 'The Stony Stream' or possibly 'The Stream on the Stony Hill', the name being extremely popular in certain areas, an example being Auchmithie in Angus in 1859 when 123 out of 375 adults were called Cargill! The name has been spelt Kergylle (1283) Kergille (1296) Kergill (1401) Cargyl (1497) and Carnigill (1583) Cargill being recorded in 1681. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter de Kergyle. which was dated 1260 Charter Witness at Drumkerauch. during the reign of King Alexander 111 of Scotland 1249 - 1286. 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.