Surname Con - Meaning and Origin
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Con: What does the surname Con mean?
The origin of the last name Con is uncertain; however, it can be traced to a few possible origins. One source suggests that Con originated as a Gaelic name derived from the personal name Conan, which means “high” or “wise”. Other sources suggest that Con could have originated from the Old French word “con”, meaning “knowledge”. Another possibility is that it is derived from the Old Irish name Conán, meaning “hound” or “wolf”.
The last name Con is most commonly found in Ireland, where it was a popular name among both the native Gaelic population and the Norman settlers who arrived during the Middle Ages. It was adopted loosely as an occupational surname in the Irish language for people who were involved in the church or government—specifically someone who was a counselor, advisor, or juror.
Historically, the last name Con was also found in parts of England, Scotland, and Wales, as well as France. People with the last name Con are believed to be descendants of yet another ancient Irish clan. The clan is believed to have their roots in ancient Scotland and may have been nearly wiped out during the Great Famine of 1700.
The last name is generally found in its more localized spellings of Conn and Conne or Cona. In the United States, people with the last name Con often trace their heritage back to Ireland. The name Con is currently found in the United States, Canada, parts of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Order DNA origin analysisCon: Where does the name Con come from?
The last name Con is most common among the Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, particularly Mexico. It is estimated that around one million people around the world have the last name Con, with the majority living in Mexico and other countries in the region such as El Salvador, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Chile. According to the World Names Profiler, Mexico has the most people with this last name, with close to 700,000 people carrying it.
Con is a very popular last name in Mexico due to it being a shortened version of the classic Spanish last name González. This is why it can be found throughout the Latin American region. The United States Census Bureau also reported that there were around 70,000 people with the last name Con living in the United States in 2018. This is due to Spanish-speaking families immigrating to the United States and other countries, where they often kept the traditional Spanish spelling of their surnames.
In general, Con implies a link to the old Spanish last name González, which dates back to Medieval Spain. The name was derived from the Basque language, and it meant "the son of Gonzalo," with Gonzalo being a common Visigothic given name. Today, Con remains prevalent in Latin America, with people from different backgrounds and countries bearing it.
Variations of the surname Con
The surname Con is a variation of the Irish surname O’Conn which derives from the Gaelic Ó Con, which means "descendant of Con". The variations and spellings of the same origin for the surname Con include; "Conn", "Conne", "Cone", "Cohn", and "Cohne".
Con and Conn are the most common spellings of the surname throughout Ireland, England and Scotland. In many places in the United Kingdom, these two spellings are used interchangeably to denote the same surname.
Cones and Cone are two other variations of the same surname, which have developed in specific regions of the UK where people have traditionally had more Latinate surnames. These spellings have become popular in counties such as Cornwall, Devon, and the home counties of England.
Cohne and Cohn are versions of the surname that are known to have been used in Germany, where the name’s origin is believed to have derived from the Jewish surname Cohen.
Other, less common variants of the Con surname include "Conne", which has been documented since as early as 1607 in Lancashire, and "Coen", which is recorded primarily in County Cork, Ireland.
Whatever spelling the surname was given throughout history, it has been a long-standing family name, shared by many descendants of a single ancestor with the same name of Con.
Famous people with the name Con
- Kit Con: A singer-songwriter who released the album "Made in Gold" in 2020.
- Cam Con: A former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Chicago White Sox from 1988 to 1992.
- Jamie Con: An actor best known for appearing in films like "Labyrinth" and "The Princess Diaries."
- Abbie Con: An actress and dancer who has appeared in numerous television series and films, including "Tron: Legacy" and "The Suite Life of Zach and Cody."
- Christina Con: An actress and model who starred in the film "Twilight Saga: Eclipse" and the television series "Gossip Girl."
- Mariana Con: An award-winning Mexican actress known for her films "Instructions Not Included" and "The Ugly Truth"
- John Con: An American actor who is best known for his roles in the Rain Man, Pretty Woman, and Ocean's Eleven franchises.
- Magdalena Con: A Venezuelan-born singer who won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Album in 2007.
- Sean Con: An American actor best known for his starring role as Johnny Cage in the film "Mortal Kombat."
- Dave Con: An English professional footballer who currently plays for Swansea City as a midfielder.