Carlton is both a surname and a given name, meaning "free peasant settlement" or "from the town of the free men (see Carl)". Prominent individuals with this name include:
Surname
edit- Bart Carlton, American basketball player
- Bronwyn Carlton (born 1962), American comic-book writer and radio DJ
- Carl Carlton (born 1953), American R&B, soul, and funk singer and songwriter
- Danny Carlton (born 1983), English footballer
- Doyle E. Carlton (1885–1972), Governor of Florida
- Doyle E. Carlton Jr. (1922–2003), American politician
- Drew Carlton (born 1995), American baseball player
- J. Phil Carlton (born 1938), Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
- Jim Carlton (1935–2015), Australian politician
- Larry Carlton (born 1948), studio guitarist best known for working with Steely Dan, the Crusaders and Joni Mitchell in the 1970s
- Steve Carlton (born 1944), professional baseball player (1965–88)
- Thad H. Carlton (1906–1965), American politician
- Vanessa Carlton (born 1980), pop and rock singer, songwriter and pianist
- Vassar B. Carlton (1912–2005), Florida Supreme Court Justice
- Wray Carlton (born 1937), American collegiate football and American Football League player
Given name
edit- Carlton B. Ardery Jr. (died 1965), American test pilot
- Carlton Barrett (1950–1987), reggae drummer and percussion player; member of Bob Marley and The Wailers
- Carlton W. Barrett (1919–1986), US Army soldier and Medal of Honor recipient
- Carlton "Bub" Carrington (born 2005), American basketball player
- Carlton Cole (born 1983), English footballer
- Carlton Cuse (born 1959), American screenwriter and producer
- Carlton Davis (born 1996), American football player
- Carlton Fairweather (born 1961), English footballer
- Carlton Fisk (born 1947), professional baseball player (1969, 1971–1993)
- Carlton Foster (1826–1901), American politician
- Carlton Gary (1950–2018), American serial killer and rapist
- Cookie Gilchrist (1935–2011), American football player
- Carlton Haselrig (1966–2020), American wrestler and National Football League player
- Carlton Higbie (born 1983), author and former Navy SEAL
- Carlton Johnson (born 1969), American football player
- Carlton Martial (born 1999), American football player
- Carlton Morris (born 1995), English football player
- Carlton Palmer (born 1965), English international football player
- Carlton Skinner (1913–2004), Governor of Guam
Fictional characters
edit- Carlton Banks, from the American television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, played by Alfonso Ribeiro and Olly Sholotan
- Carlton Lassiter, from the American television series Psych
- Carlton the doorman, on the American television show Rhoda and Carlton Your Doorman
- Johnny Cage (born John Carlton), from the Mortal Kombat video game series
- Carlton "Carl" Carlson, from the animated television series The Simpsons