2000
#147,095
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Confrey
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic term "con-froid" meaning "wise sayer" or "philosopher".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 123 Americans carry the last name Confrey. That puts it at #151,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,786,621 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Confrey surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Confrey with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
123
1 in 2,786,621
Census rank
#151,639
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Confrey in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Confrey, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Black (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Confrey
The surname Confrey originated in England, likely in the northern counties during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "cunfrei," meaning "a sworn brother" or "a member of a confraternity." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to identify someone who belonged to a religious brotherhood or fraternal organization.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Cunfrey." This document contains records of landowners and tenants during the reign of King Edward I. The name is also mentioned in the Placita de Quo Warranto from 1292, which was a legal inquiry into the rights and privileges claimed by individuals and institutions.
In the 14th century, the surname Confrey appeared in various forms, such as "Cunfrey," "Confray," and "Confre." These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation during that time period. It is possible that the name was also influenced by its association with certain locations or places, as was common with many English surnames.
One notable figure bearing the name Confrey was John Confrey, a merchant and trader who lived in London during the late 16th century. Records indicate that he was involved in the lucrative wool trade and held significant wealth and influence in the city.
Another individual of historical significance was William Confrey, a soldier who fought in the English Civil War (1642-1651). He served under Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarian forces and participated in several key battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.
In the 18th century, a prominent member of the Confrey family was Elizabeth Confrey (1720-1789), a landowner and philanthropist from Yorkshire. She was known for her charitable work and contributed to the establishment of several schools and hospitals in the region.
During the 19th century, the name Confrey gained some recognition through the achievements of Sir Charles Confrey (1825-1901), a British politician and diplomat. He served as the Governor of British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) from 1875 to 1877 and played a significant role in the administration of the colonial government.
Another notable figure was James Confrey (1844-1918), a Scottish-born businessman and industrialist who made his fortune in the textile industry. He established several successful mills and factories in Lancashire, England, and was known for his innovative manufacturing methods and fair treatment of workers.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Confrey
Among Census respondents with the surname Confrey, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Black (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Confrey bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Confrey surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.4% · 101
- Hispanic or Latino1.9% · 2
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Confrey
Confrey appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#151,532
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
+5 bearers (+4.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 4,437 places
2020
#151,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
-1 bearers (-0.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 107 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #147,095 | 103 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #151,532 | 108 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.9%) | Down 4,437 places |
| 2020 | #151,639 | 107 | 0.04 | -1 bearers (-0.9%) | Down 107 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Confrey surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #151,532 | #151,639 | -0.1% |
| Count | 108 | 107 | -0.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -10.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Confrey bearers went from 108 to 107 (-0.9% change). The surname moved down 107 positions in the national ranking, going from #151,532 to #151,639.
FAQ
Confrey surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Confrey?
Name Census estimates that about 123 living Americans carry the surname Confrey. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,786,621 residents.
How common is Confrey?
Confrey ranks #151,639 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 107 people with the surname Confrey. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (123), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Confrey.
Has Confrey become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Confrey went from 108 recorded bearers to 107. That is a decrease of 1 (-0.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #151,532 to #151,639.
What does the Census say about the background of Confrey?
Among Census respondents with the surname Confrey, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Black (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Confrey in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.4% (101 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Confrey appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.4%), Hispanic (1.9%), Black (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Confrey (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Confrey mean?
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic term "con-froid" meaning "wise sayer" or "philosopher". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Confrey (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Confrey?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.