Conlon
An Irish surname usually explained as a form of Conlan, ultimately from a Gaelic personal name beginning with Con- (“hound” or “wolf”).
The #4,518 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 39,356 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Conlon is generally treated as an Irish surname related to Conlan, and the Con- element in Irish names usually comes from Old Irish cú, meaning “hound” or “wolf.” In that tradition, the name likely began as a patronymic or clan-style surname built on a personal name containing that element. 19th-century Irish surname scholarship often records Conlon alongside Conlan and similar forms, suggesting close historical relationship rather than a completely separate origin.
History
The name is strongly associated with Ireland and is found in Irish surname lists and county-based surname studies. In modern records it appears in several spellings, especially Conlon and Conlan, reflecting the normal variation of Anglicized Irish names. The surname also spread widely through Irish emigration, especially to Britain, North America, and Australia.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In older Irish-name scholarship, Conlon is often listed right beside Conlan, showing how easily the spelling could shift between families and even between records.
From the historical record
“Claveen, Clavin ; Swords, etc. 6 ClAoriAin, Clinane ; Conlon. 6 ClArAirj, Clahane, Clehane. C CleijieACAiTi, 0 Cloijicin, Clerihan, Clerkan, Clerkin,”
— Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish names and surnames