Been lurking for a while but thought I would pitch in my two cents:
Knowing what I know of American History, there is one of two ways for them to
have adopted the Carrier surname. First, as we know, they would have been
owned or bought (and possibly released) by a Carrier. Or secondly, they could
have, at one time, had a profession (or are descendants of someone who was)
that fit the surname.
Interesting factoid though:
My Carrier family (from Thomas, and so on down) are the ones that settled in
Connecticut, from Massachusetts in the early 1700's - Thomas and sons
travelled back and forth many times in order to settle the land etc... The
house, which still stands and is in the family, was at one time a stop on the
Underground Railroad. Very large sub-basement and what-not. Possibility of
any one of the slaves that passed through adopting the surname, staying for a
touch until emancipation and then moving on? This may be a little
far-fetched, but who knows.
Nicole Elizabeth Rosenberger