Spelled Cary, this name is a surname. It has many different origins; either Welsh meaning "hill fort," English from several place names derived from the river Cary, English via the Norman French place name Carrey, or Irish from the personal name Ciar meaning "black." A famous bearer was the English actor Cary Grant (born Archibald Alexander Leach 1904-1986). In modern American usage, though, it is often an alternate spelling of Carrie (see also).See Also: Carrie, Kari, Kerry