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

Contee, 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 Contee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Contee in America

Contee is the 43006th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Contee surname appeared 503 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 Contee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Contee 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 Contee

The surname Contee has its origins in France, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "conte," which means "count" or "earl." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who held positions of nobility or authority.

One of the earliest known references to the Contee surname can be found in the parish records of the Normandy region of France. In the year 1592, a man named Pierre Contee was recorded as a landowner in the village of Rouen. This provides evidence that the name was well-established in northern France during the late Renaissance period.

As the Contee family spread across Europe, variations in spelling emerged, including Conte, Conté, and Conti. Some of these variations may have been influenced by regional dialects or the preferences of individual scribes who recorded the name in official documents.

In the 17th century, the Contee surname appeared in England, likely brought by French Huguenot refugees fleeing religious persecution. One notable figure from this era was John Contee, a merchant who was born in London in 1638. He later emigrated to the American colonies and settled in Maryland, where he became a prominent landowner and established a family line that endured for generations.

Another significant individual bearing the Contee surname was Benjamin Contee (1718-1785), a wealthy planter and politician from Maryland. He served as a member of the provincial assembly and played an active role in the American Revolutionary War, supporting the patriot cause.

During the 19th century, the Contee surname gained further prominence in the United States. Samuel Contee (1809-1876), a lawyer and politician from Maryland, served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1845 to 1847.

In the realm of literature, Mary Contee Fairfax (1787-1853), an American writer and poet, was known for her contributions to early American literature. Her works, which often explored themes of nature and spirituality, were widely published during her lifetime.

Across the Atlantic, the Contee surname also left its mark in France. Jean-Baptiste Contee (1786-1855) was a French military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later served as a member of the Chamber of Peers, the upper house of the French parliament.

While the Contee surname may not be as widespread as some other names, it has a rich history spanning multiple continents and centuries. Its origins can be traced back to the noble classes of medieval France, and it has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from politics and military service to literature and commerce.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Contee

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

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

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

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