Conyers
An old Norman surname from Coigniers in France, brought to England after the Conquest.
The #5,289 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 46,900 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Conyers is a locational surname taken from Coigniers, an old place-name in Normandy. The name points to a family that came from that place and settled in England after the Norman Conquest. The older forms in the sources, such as Coigniers and Coigniers/Coigners, reflect the French origin behind the modern spelling.
History
The surname is associated with an ancient Norman family said to have come into England with William the Conqueror. One early bearer named Roger de Coigniers is traditionally linked with the constableship of Durham. In England, the name also became attached to place-names such as Howton Coigniers in Yorkshire, helping preserve the family surname in local history.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname helped give its name to Howton Coigniers in Yorkshire, showing how a family name could become part of the landscape.
From the historical record
“May, 1859. CONYERS. "Of this ancient family, originally \\Tote Coignicrs, denominated fi"om a place of that name in France, was Roger de Coigniers, that came into England about the end of the reign of Will, the Con- queror, to whom the bishop of Durham gave the coustableship of Durham." Kimber. The family gave the…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom