Carlton

Carlton is a surname and place name of English origin. It derives from Old English ceorl, meaning a freeman, and tun, meaning farmstead or settlement; the combined form denotes a village associated with freemen, or a settlement named after a person named Ceorl. The name has become common across the English-speaking world and is used for towns, neighborhoods, and districts, as well as a family name.

In geography, Carlton refers to numerous places. In England, there are villages named Carlton, including in Nottinghamshire. In Australia, Carlton is an inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, known for its universities, cafés, and historic buildings along Lygon Street. In North America, there are towns named Carlton in several states in the United States, and in Canada the spelling Carleton is more common in some locations.

Notable uses include Carlton Football Club, the professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne; the club is part of the AFL and known as the Blues. In culture, Carlton Banks is a fictional character in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, recognized for his affable, preppy persona. The name Carlton is also used as a surname and given name for numerous individuals.

See also variants and related spellings such as Carleton.