Other Writers on the Surname Cartin
Books on Irish surnames tend to be unfamiliar with the origins of the name, typically linking Cartin with MacCartan. Some recognise that there is an inconsistency between the high numbers of Cartins in the North West of the province of Ulster and the fairly extensive MacCartan clan in Co Down. The two areas are quite distinct and comparatively remote from each other at almost opposite ends of the province of Ulster. This inconsistency can be referred to as the Kneafsey paradox 1;
“Whilst it is not a reintroduction, another paradox arises when comparison is made with an example of the use of the 'Mac' prefix in Ulster. McCartan remains solidly with its prefix in the south east, whereas Carton, Cartin, Carten and Cartan are the forms found in the north east and along the north coast of Northern Ireland.”
The following authors have looked at the surname or close variants and their publications are referenced for further research.
Surnames of Ireland by Edward Kneafsey (1) Kneafsey
The Surnames of Ireland by Edward MacLysaght (2) MacLysaght
The Book of Ulster Surnames by Robert Bell (3) Bell
Surnames in Ireland by Sean E Quinn (4) Quinn
Irish Pedigrees or the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation by John O’Hart (5) O’Hart
Irish Names and Surnames by Patrick Woulfe (6) Woulfe
Conclusions of Sean McCartan (7) McCartan
References
1 Kneafsey, Edward Surnames of Ireland ISBN 0 940134 97 7 See also 179 McConville on Surnames in Ireland Extract http://www.mcconville.org/main/genealogy/surnames.html
2 The Surnames of Ireland sixth edition by Edward MacLysaght ISBN 0-7165-2364-7
3 The Book of Ulster Surnames by Robert Bell ISBN0-85640-602-
4 Surnames in Ireland by Sean E Quinn ISBN 1 871 509 39
5 John O’Hart. "Irish Pedigrees; or, the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation" by John O'Hart, Fifth Edition, 1892
6 Irish Names and Surnames Patrick Woulfe Genealogical Publishing Com, 1993
ISBN 086303816 9780806303819
7 Email to Edward Cartin from Sean McCartan April 2002 who has carried out extensive research on the surname McCartan.