Surname Conan - Meaning and Origin
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Conan: What does the surname Conan mean?
The last name Conan is of Scottish origin. It originated as a habitational name from the settlement of Conan which is believed to have been located in either Caithness or Sutherland. The meaning of Conan is uncertain, but some historians believe that it came from the Old Norse personal name Koni, meaning “hound of the king.”
Another possible explanation for the origins of Conan is that it is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic surname MacShimidh, meaning "son of Simidh." This surname appears in different spellings, such as MacSimidh and MacSiveed, and is thought to have originated in the two Lochalsh villages of Kintail and Kishorn in Scotland.
The surname Conan is primarily found in Scotland, particularly in the counties of Sutherland and Caithness. It can also be found in County Monaghan, Ireland, where it is thought to have been adopted by Scots soldiers as a result of the Plantation of Ulster during the 17th century.
Today, the Conan family name continues to be used in Scotland, Ireland, and other parts of the world. It is especially popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, and England. The meaning of Conan and the history of the Conan family are both unique and fascinating, offering us a glimpse into the past and helping us to understand our ancestors’ lives and legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisConan: Where does the name Conan come from?
The last name Conan is most common today among people of French-Canadian descent, particularly in the province of Quebec. The name itself likely originates from the Old French term “Conan”, which means “wolf”, and is often spelled as “Conan”, “Conanet”, or “Konan”. This surname is found in some areas of the United States, especially in the Upper Midwest, and Canada, primarily in Quebec.
The last name Conan is believed to have originated in France, first appearing in the department of Aubervilliers. From here, it spread throughout the country, ultimately reaching Quebec, where the name gained its greatest prevalence. In fact, according to Statistics Canada, the last name Conan is one of the 200 most common surnames in the province today, ranking at 186th. In the United States, Conan is much less common; the most common states for the name are Minnesota, Nebraska, and Michigan.
In conclusion, the last name Conan is most common among people of French-Canadian ancestry, and is particularly common in Quebec, where it is one of the 200 most popular surnames. It is also found in isolated pockets in the Upper Midwest and some other parts of the United States.
Variations of the surname Conan
The surname Conan has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames derived from the same origin. Variants include Conn, Con, Connen, Conin, Conanach, Connach, Connachan, Connan, Connon, Connyn, Cunon, and Kunon. Spellings can include Connen, Connyn, Connagh, Connah, and Connan.
Surnames derived from the same origin include Connan, Connaughton, Connah, and Connolly. Connan is an anglicized version of the Irish surname O Conain, which is derived from the Gaelic surname O Conaonaigh, literally translating to “male descendant of Conán”. O Conain is a patronymic surname, literally meaning "descendant of Conán". So, all the surnames derived from the same origin are all descendants of "Conán", which could be a reference to an Irish clan, tribe, or ancestor.
Connaughton is a variant of the Irish name Connachtan, which is derived from the ancient Irish kingdom of Connacht. The Connaughtans were the Gaelic people of the region of Connacht, and as a result, this surname is derived from the same origin as the surname Conan. Connah and Connolly are derived from the Irish Gaelic name Conghal, which literally translates to “strong as a wolf”.
In conclusion, the surname Conan has many variants, spellings, and surnames derived from the same origin, all which references the ancient Irish kingdom of Connacht and its inhabitants. This includes Conn, Con, Connen, Conin, Conanach, Connach, Connachan, Connan, Connon, Connyn, Cunon, Kunon, Connan, Connaughton, Connah, and Connolly.
Famous people with the name Conan
- Conan O’Brien: An American television host and comedian. He is currently the host of “Conan” on TBS.
- Conan Stevens: Actor, stuntman, bodybuilder and martial artist from New Zealand.
- Conan Sanders: Former All-American trampoline gymnast and current sportscaster.
- Conan Gray: Singer and songwriter from Texas.
- Jack Conan: Irish rugby union player for Leinster and Ireland.
- Gillian Conan: British entrepreneur, investor and former model.
- Tupele Dorgu: English actress, best known for her role as Kelly-Marie Conan in ITV’s Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
- Christopher Conan: Jamaican actor best known for his roles in Eugene O’Neill’s plays.
- Elske McCain: British actress, model and writer, also known as Elske Conan.
- Desmond Conan: South African cricketer who played six games for South Africa and four games for Natal.