text: Regarding Carey as a surname in Cornwall there are four candidates for Cornish Carey: 1) one of several places in Cornwall with the Brythonic element 'caer'-'fort/enclosure', such as Caer Vallack, Kerrow, Caroe- which may also be the source of the Carew surname there &c; 2) a local topographical name from root Old European/Pre-Celtic 'kar' viz.