Surname Cargen - Meaning and Origin
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Cargen: What does the surname Cargen mean?
The surname Cargen is an English and Scottish name of Anglo-Saxon origin. The name has two separate meanings. The first meaning is derived from the Old English words caru, meaning care, and igen, meaning family or kin. This would suggest that the initial bearer of this surname was someone that was known as being a caring and protective family member.
An alternate English origin of the name Cargen comes from the Old English words cearu meaning ‘sorrow or grief’ and gan, meaning ‘garden’. This would suggest that the initial bearer of the name Cargen may have had a garden that was a source of grief or sorrow to them for some reason.
The surname Cargen is rare, but it is found in both England and Scotland. The earliest recorded usage of the surname Cargen can be found recorded as a forename Cargen Magod in 1086, in the Domesday Book of Warwickshire, England.
Regardless of its origin, the name Cargen reflects a family line that has endured for centuries and one that still carries the same strong values today. The initial bearer of this name likely had a commitment to their family and to their loved ones, values that have been passed down through the generations.
Order DNA origin analysisCargen: Where does the name Cargen come from?
The last name Cargen is mostly found in the United States, with a small presence in some other countries. According to Ancestry’s Family Tree DNA database, the most common place of origin for individuals with the last name Cargen is Germany. Many of the individuals with the surname Cargen in the United States are likely descendants of immigrants from Germany who arrived in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
While the majority of individuals with the last name Cargen reside in the United States, there is a small population spread out across the world. A quick search of the international genealogy research website MyHeritage.com shows that there are members of the Cargen family in Canada, New Zealand, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, and some other European countries.
Overall, Cargen is not an especially common surname. According to Ancestry’s World Names Profiler, Cargen has an incidence rank of 51,711 out of millions of surnames currently in use. The Cargen family tree is small but far-reaching, and its members have now spread to multiple countries across the globe.
Variations of the surname Cargen
The surname Cargen has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations are Cargill, Cargile, Cargil, Cargin, and Cargillen. These variations can be found throughout the world, from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland to Northern Europe, Scandinavia, and the United States.
Other spellings of Cargen include Carkin, Carbine, Carrigan, Caarcen, Caargin, Carsgen, Carcan, Kargen, Karkin, Korgin, Karran, Garkin, Gargon, Garcon, Cargon, Corgan, Cromin, Crealin, Creiggan, Creggan, and Crine.
Some surnames that are derived from Cargen include Caigais, Caiges, Cawgey, Caggey, Carriaga, Caissle, Carvis, Cornish, Corisen, Garrington, Garegan, Garson, Garrason, Garvin, Garrin, Garran, and Garraty.
Other Cargen variants are displayed on records from the House of Names. These variations include Carigin, Caragn, Caracan, Carlan, Corgan, Corgane, Corgeon, Curcian, Carmgen, Carjean, Carkein, Carrick, Carrigan, Carriganne, Carringen, Carrossen, and Gorghan.
It is likely that many other variants exist. This is due to the fact that English has changed significantly over the centuries and surname spellings have adapted to reflect it. What was once known as Cargen may today be written as Caigais, and vice versa.
Famous people with the name Cargen
- Larry Cargen: American football player who played fullback for the New York Giants during the 1960s
- Bob Cargen: American actor known for his roles in the films The Golden Child and My Best Friend's Wedding
- Peter Cargen: former Australian politician and member of the Australian House of Representatives
- Donna Cargen: British film and television actress best known for her roles in the films Notting Hill and Brotherhood
- William Cargen: American Jazz musician from the New Orleans area
- Fred Cargen: former American MLB baseball player who played for the St Louis Cardinals in the 1930s
- James Cargen: American professional golfer who won the 1962 PGA Championship
- Gordon Cargen: Canadian politician and former mayor of Toronto
- Steve Cargen: American actor and comedian known for his appearances in the films Scary Movie and Liar Liar
- Stephen Cargen: British classical pianist and composer who wrote works for the Royal Academy of Music.