Re possible French connection for Carlisles, I think this would be an exceptional situation--a family that had moved from England or Scotland to France and then to this country.. In the past several years I have looked through a number of different encyclopedias and dictionaries of surnames for the origin of the Carlisle surname. Without exception they have stated that Carlisles are named after Carlisle, England. I have a book on Galloway and Dumfriesshire, Scotland (nearest Carlisle, England) which tells about numerous Carliles that lived in the area in the ninth century. The spelling seems to have evolved into Carlyle in Scotland and to Carlisle in England. The information I have is that surnames were not generally used in England until William the Conqueror came in 1066 and began to impose French customs and procedures. Also, that most early surnames were based on a town or origin or on the names of occupations. We were in Carlisle, England last month and toured the castle and cathedral. There are only half a dozen Carliles and Carlisles there now. Ode Carlisle