UK surname
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Conbhuí, meaning "descendant of Cú Bhuí" (hound of yellow).
In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Conaway surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 64, ranked #34,098, down from #22,893 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Cammerton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Conaway is 121 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 14.7%.
1881 census count
75
Ranked #22,893
Modern count
64
2016, ranked #34,098
Peak year
1861
121 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Conaway surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Conaway surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 110 | #16,093 |
| 1861 | historical | 121 | #18,148 |
| 1881 | historical | 75 | #22,893 |
| 1891 | historical | 41 | #31,095 |
| 1901 | historical | 60 | #27,502 |
| 1911 | historical | 48 | #28,006 |
| 1997 | modern | 65 | #31,141 |
| 1998 | modern | 64 | #31,562 |
| 1999 | modern | 69 | #31,223 |
| 2000 | modern | 70 | #31,180 |
| 2001 | modern | 65 | #31,501 |
| 2002 | modern | 65 | #31,903 |
| 2003 | modern | 64 | #32,056 |
| 2004 | modern | 63 | #32,380 |
| 2005 | modern | 64 | #32,482 |
| 2006 | modern | 59 | #33,330 |
| 2007 | modern | 59 | #33,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 57 | #34,015 |
| 2009 | modern | 63 | #33,751 |
| 2010 | modern | 63 | #34,002 |
| 2011 | modern | 59 | #34,265 |
| 2012 | modern | 61 | #34,228 |
| 2013 | modern | 60 | #34,378 |
| 2014 | modern | 61 | #34,343 |
| 2015 | modern | 61 | #34,284 |
| 2016 | modern | 64 | #34,098 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Cammerton, London parishes, Workington (Workington), Clossocks and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Bees | Cumberland |
| 2 | Cammerton | Cumberland |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Workington (Workington), Clossocks | Cumberland |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Conaway surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Conaway, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Conaway surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Conaway household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Conaway is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Conaway is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Conaway, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Conaway has its origins in the British Isles, particularly in England and Ireland. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cony" and "way," which together translate to "rabbit path" or "rabbit road." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a path frequented by rabbits or a place known for its abundance of rabbits.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in England. One of the earliest known references is found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, which lists a William Conaway as a resident of the village of Coniston.
In Ireland, the name is often spelled "Conaway" or "Conoway," and it is thought to have been introduced during the Anglo-Norman invasion of the 12th century. Some of the earliest records of the name in Ireland can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Elizabeth I, which mentions a John Conaway from County Down in 1585.
Historically, the name has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded was Sir John Conaway, a English knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century. Another notable figure was Thomas Conaway (c. 1600-1660), an English Puritan minister who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony and became a prominent figure in the early colonial era.
In the 18th century, John Conaway (1720-1795) was a landowner and politician in Pennsylvania, serving in the state's General Assembly. During the American Revolutionary War, Clement Conaway (1758-1829) served as a captain in the Continental Army and later became a prominent citizen in Maryland.
In the 19th century, James Conaway (1816-1899) was a successful businessman and politician in Ohio, serving as the mayor of Zanesville and as a member of the state legislature. Additionally, Frank G. Conaway (1865-1945) was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in Chicago and other cities in the Midwest.
Throughout its history, the surname Conaway has been associated with various places, including the village of Coniston in Cumbria, England, as well as towns and counties in Ireland, such as County Down and County Antrim.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Conaway surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cumberland leads with 23 Conaways recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.69x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 23 | 39.69x |
| Lanarkshire | 13 | 5.97x |
| Northumberland | 9 | 8.99x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.00x |
| Ayrshire | 5 | 9.93x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 2.90x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 1.32x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.30x |
| Angus | 1 | 1.60x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 1.92x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 10 Conaways recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.15x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barony | 10 | 18.15x |
| Cleator | 9 | 373.44x |
| Seaton | 9 | 1323.53x |
| Kirkdale | 5 | 37.20x |
| Chirton | 4 | 176.21x |
| Farnborough | 4 | 275.86x |
| Hensingham | 4 | 851.06x |
| Dalmellington | 3 | 202.70x |
| Fawdon | 3 | 3750.00x |
| Govan | 3 | 5.57x |
| Hornsey | 2 | 23.50x |
| Longton | 2 | 588.24x |
| Arlecdon | 1 | 64.94x |
| Bilston | 1 | 22.73x |
| Dundee | 1 | 4.30x |
| Kilmarnock | 1 | 16.67x |
| Longbenton | 1 | 23.58x |
| Maybole | 1 | 65.36x |
| Paisley High Church | 1 | 24.10x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 4.15x |
| Upholland | 1 | 98.04x |
| Walsall Foreign | 1 | 8.52x |
| Westgate | 1 | 16.13x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Conaway surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Conaway surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Conaway households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Linen Spinner | 3 |
| Farmer | 2 |
| Fireman | 2 |
| Railway Lab | 2 |
| Builders Lab | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Farmer Of 206 Acres Employing 5 Servants | 1 |
| Furnaceman (Fac Lab) | 1 |
| Gen Labourer | 1 |
| Hoop Iron Bundler | 1 |
| Iron Ore Miner | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer (General) | 1 |
| Machine Maker | 1 |
| Pawnbrokers Manager | 1 |
| Pensioner | 1 |
| Servant (Dom) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Conaway surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 64 in 2016. That gives Conaway a modern rank of #34,098.
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Conbhuí, meaning "descendant of Cú Bhuí" (hound of yellow).
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Conaway bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.