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

Conk, 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 Conk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Conk in America

Conk is the 52482nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Conk surname appeared 395 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Conk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Conk 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 Conk

The surname Conk has its origins in the Middle English language, derived from the Old English word "conc," meaning a bend or curve. This name likely originated in England during the medieval period, sometime between the 11th and 15th centuries.

In its earliest forms, the name was often spelled as "Conke" or "Conkes," reflecting the regional dialects and variations in spelling conventions of the time. It is believed that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a bend in a river or road, or perhaps someone with a prominent curved or bent feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Conk can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John Conke is listed as a taxpayer. Another early reference is found in the Lancashire Inquests of 1334, mentioning a Adam del Conk.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Conk became more widespread across England, with records showing variations like "Concke" and "Conck." Notable bearers of the name during this period include Robert Conk, a landowner in Warwickshire born around 1580, and Elizabeth Conk, a resident of Lincolnshire who was recorded in the Parish Registers of 1612.

In the 18th century, the Conk surname appeared in various regions of England, with individuals such as Thomas Conk (born 1715, Gloucestershire) and William Conk (born 1742, Yorkshire) being documented in historical records.

One of the most prominent figures with the Conk surname was Sir John Conk (1714-1792), a successful merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1765. He was instrumental in promoting trade and commerce in the city during his tenure.

Other notable individuals with the Conk surname include:

1. Robert Conk (1820-1895), an English clergyman and author who published several theological works.
2. Harriet Conk (1837-1923), an American educator and women's rights advocate, known for her work in establishing schools for women in the Northeastern United States.
3. Charles Conk (1867-1942), a British engineer and inventor who patented several innovations in the field of steam engine design.
4. Emily Conk (1888-1964), a Canadian artist renowned for her landscape paintings depicting the rugged beauty of the Canadian Rockies.
5. William Conk (1902-1978), an American journalist and war correspondent who covered major conflicts including World War II and the Korean War.

While the name Conk has seen various spellings throughout history, its origins can be traced back to the descriptive Middle English term referring to a curved or bent shape, reflecting the naming traditions of medieval England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Conk

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!