Carter is a surname, which originally meant a person who hauls goods in a cart and originally from the Gaelic and Celtic language word Cairt meaning cart. This name being from Gaelic and Celtic origins would mean the name formed in Ireland, Scotland and later migrated to England where it was reduced to its English pronunciation and form. However this name stems from a few common surnames, the names being McCarthy, McArthur and McCarter. People with this surname may trace their ancestors back to Ireland, many of these name holders ancestors escaped Ireland during the Irish diaspora heading to Great Britain, the American colonies typically the colonies of New York, Massachusetts, Georgia and Virginia. Other immigrants entered the United States later during the Great Famine of Ireland in the 1840s and later. By the time the early 20th century the 1900s and 1920s, came in to play many Irish immigrants coming from Ireland to the states brought this name with them as their name, with records in Ellis Island proving to this claim. In Ireland the counties with the highest amount of families living with this surname are Laois, Galway, Meath and Leitrim however all counties have families living with this surname just these counties seem to be where the name might have originated. Laois seems to be the place where most Carter's settled or where the name began in origin. Further information can be found on the Carter surname in Ireland and the counties it is predominantly found in can be viewed here on this website. This surname however is found in all counties of Ireland many others in the UK also hold this surname.It may refer to:For other people with this name, see Carter (name).Carter may also refer to: