Find out how popular the last name Conant is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Conant.

Conant, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Conant surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Conant in America

Conant is the 6333rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Conant surname appeared 5,386 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Conant.

We can also compare 2010 data for Conant to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Conant

The surname CONANT is of English origin, deriving from the Old French word 'conant', meaning 'knowing' or 'aware'. It is believed to have emerged in the 12th century as a descriptive surname, likely referring to someone who was known for their knowledge or wisdom.

The earliest recorded instances of the CONANT surname can be found in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a Richard Conaunt. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the CONANT name, but it does include similar spellings like 'Conand' and 'Conant'.

Throughout history, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Connant, Connaunt, and Connant. Some of these variations can be traced back to specific regions or place names. For example, the Connaunt spelling was common in areas like Gloucestershire and Somerset, possibly derived from local place names.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the CONANT surname was Roger Conant, an English colonist who played a crucial role in the founding of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1626. He was born in East Budleigh, Devon, England, in 1592 and is considered one of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Another notable figure was Thomas Conant (1597-1670), an English settler and one of the founders of the town of Beverly, Massachusetts. He was born in Budleigh, Devon, and emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1623, where he became a prominent figure in the early colonial settlement.

In the realm of literature, Rachel Field (1894-1942), an American novelist and children's writer, was born Rachel Conant. She is best known for her Newbery Medal-winning novel "Hitty, Her First Hundred Years" (1929).

The CONANT surname has also been associated with notable figures in the fields of academia and science. One such individual was James Bryant Conant (1893-1978), an American chemist and educator who served as the president of Harvard University from 1933 to 1953.

Another prominent figure was Kenneth John Conant (1894-1984), an American organic chemist and educator who made significant contributions to the field of organic chemistry. He was born in Massachusetts and served as a professor at Harvard University for many years.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the CONANT surname, showcasing its rich heritage and the diverse contributions made by those bearing this name across various fields and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Conant

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Conant.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Conant was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Conant has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Conant was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Conant, please contact us.

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