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

Conboy, 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 Conboy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Conboy in America

Conboy is the 14197th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Conboy surname appeared 2,115 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Conboy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Conboy 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 Conboy

The surname Conboy is of Irish origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval era in Ireland. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words "cún" meaning hound or wolf, and "buidhe" meaning yellow or tawny, suggesting a connection to a person with a yellowish or tawny complexion or hair color resembling that of a wolf or hound.

The name is thought to have emerged in County Sligo, located in the northwestern region of Ireland. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a renowned chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by Franciscan monks in the early 17th century.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Conboy was Tadhg Conboy, a prominent landowner and chieftain who lived in County Sligo during the 14th century. His descendants continued to hold significant influence in the region for several generations.

In the 16th century, historical records mention a Seán Conboy, a skilled warrior who fought alongside the renowned Irish chieftain Red Hugh O'Donnell during the Nine Years' War against English forces in Ireland.

During the 17th century, the Conboy family faced difficulties due to the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland and the subsequent Plantation of Ulster, which saw many Irish landowners dispossessed of their lands. However, some Conboy families managed to retain their holdings, and the name continued to be prevalent in County Sligo and surrounding areas.

In the late 18th century, a notable figure was Patrick Conboy, a successful merchant and landowner from County Sligo who played a significant role in the development of the town of Ballymote.

Throughout the 19th century, several members of the Conboy family were involved in various professions, including law, education, and the clergy. One such individual was Reverend Michael Conboy, a prominent Catholic priest who served as the parish priest of Ballymote in the mid-19th century.

As the centuries progressed, the Conboy surname spread beyond its original homeland in County Sligo, with members of the family migrating to other parts of Ireland, as well as to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia, where they contributed to the rich tapestry of Irish diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Conboy

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

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 Conboy 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 Conboy 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 Conboy was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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