Surname Cartmale - Meaning and Origin

Cartmale: What does the surname Cartmale mean?

Cartmale is a surname of English origin. It is believed to have derived from two old English words - 'carl', which means 'man' or 'husband', and 'mele' or 'meal', which refers to ground grain. Therefore, the surname may refer to a 'man who grinds grain or miller'. The name might have been an occupational surname bestowed upon individuals who were engaged in that profession. The surname is reasonably rare, and its variants may include Cartmail, Cartmell, Cartmill, and Cartmel. However, it should be noted that surname origins can be subject to speculation and interpretation, and the true meaning may have been altered or lost over time due to linguistic evolution and cultural changes.

Cartmale: Where does the name Cartmale come from?

The surname Cartmale is of English origin, specifically from North West England. More particularly, it has roots in the region of Cumbria. The name is said to have derived from the Old Scandinavian terms "kartr" and "melr" which mean "rocky ground" and "sandbank" respectively. This suggests that the original bearers of the surname may have lived in such a geographical location.

As with many surnames, over time different spellings have been recorded, including Cartmell, Cartmel, and Cartmail. When it comes to modern times, the surname seems to keep its concentration around its point of origin, Cumbria, and surrounding areas within England. It is not typically found in larger quantities outside of the United Kingdom. Given the unique nature of the surname, Cartmale continues to be relatively rare even within England, adding a distinctiveness to the bearers of this last name.

Variations of the surname Cartmale

The surname Cartmale is quite unique and thus, has very few variants due to its specificity in origin and spelling. However, some subtle variations might include Cartmail, Cartmell, Cartmel, or Cartmill based on regional pronunciation and transcription errors over the years. These names are traditionally of English origin, specifically from the Northern region.

Further, there are also locations with similar names like Cartmel in Cumbria, which is known for its famous medieval priory, or Cartmell Fell, also in Cumbria. These places could have contributed to the surname for individuals who hailed from these locations.

As the name appears to be a compound of "cart" and "male", there could be some link to occupations that used carts, such as cartwright or carter. But given the relative obscurity and rarity of the surname, it's hard to draw a definite line to any particular occupation-based spelling variant.

Another aspect to consider is the varying spellings of the name based on linguistic accents and dialects. In some areas of England, the end "e" might be dropped, leading to "Cartmal". In all, due to its uncommon nature, there's limited potential for a wide range of variants for Cartmale.

Famous people with the name Cartmale

• Christopher Cartmale: He is a British actor, known for his role as Marc Taylor on Marcella from 2016 to 2018.
• Jenny Cartmale: She is an activist and campaigner specialising in the cessation of human rights abuses in the field of modern day slavery.
• Sue Cartmale: She is a British sculptor and author whose bronze works form part of permanent exhibitions throughout the United Kingdom.
• David Cartmale: He is a British musician, composer and arranger. He has composed original scores and orchestrated for productions in the theatre, television and film industries.
• Lana Cartmale: She is a British fashion model, representing a number of emerging labels and designers in her home country and abroad.
• Harvey Cartmale: He is a Paralympic athlete from Great Britain, specialising in the T37 800 metres and 400 metres.
• Ryan Cartmale: He is a British musician, record producer and recording engineer, best known for engineering and producing albums for major artists such as Take That, Rihanna and Jessie J.
• Lottie Cartmale: She is an English television presenter, best known for presenting the popular BBC game show Pointless.
• Kirsty Cartmale: She is a British fashion designer, credited as a mentor for emerging fashion labels. She has been a judge for the British Emerging Designer Awards and the International Fashion Wear Awards.
• Sam Cartmale: He is an English chef and restaurateur, as well as a judge on popular food series MasterChef.

Other surnames

CartmailCartmall