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Congdon History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Congdon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

When the Anglo-Normans began to settle in Ireland, they brought the tradition of local surnames to an island which already had a Gaelic naming system of hereditary surnames established. Local surnames, such as Congdon, were formed from the names of a place or a geographical landmark where a person lived, held land, or was born. The earliest Anglo-Norman surnames of this type came from Normandy, but as the Normans moved, they created names that referred to where they actually resided. Originally, these place names were prefixed by "de," which means "from" in French. It is thought that this family derived its name from when an ancestor lived in the settlement of Caunton in the English county of Nottinghamshire. The Gaelic form of the surname Congdon is Condún.

Early Origins of the Congdon family

The surname Congdon was first found in County Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) the ancient Kingdom of Deis Muin (Desmond), located on the southwest coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where this ancient Norman family were granted lands by Strongbow for their assistance in the invasion of Ireland in 1172.

Early History of the Congdon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Congdon research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1605 and 1721 are included under the topic Early Congdon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Congdon Spelling Variations

Names were simply spelled as they sounded by medieval scribes and church officials. Therefore, during the lifetime of a single person, his name was often spelt in many different ways, explaining the many spelling variations encountered while researching the name Congdon. Some of these variations included: Condon, Condone, Caunteton, Condun, Condin, Conden, Condan, Condine, Condune, Caundon and many more.

Early Notables of the Congdon family

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Congdon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Congdon Ranking

In the United States, the name Congdon is the 8,073^rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Congdon migration to the United States +

The Irish emigration during the late 18th and 19th century contributed to the melting pot of nationalities in North America, and the building of a whole new era of industry and commerce in what was seen as a rich, new land. Ireland'sGreat Potato Famine resulted in the worst economic and social conditions in the island's history. And in response to the hunger, disease, and poverty, during this decade the total number of emigrants to leave for North America rivaled all the previous years combined. Those from this decade that arrived on North American shores were not warmly welcomed by the established population, but they were vital to the rapid development of the industry, agriculture, and infrastructure of the infant nations of the United States and what would become Canada. Research into early immigration and passenger lists has shown many people bearing the name Congdon:

Congdon Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Congdon, who landed in Virginia in 1650 2

Congdon migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Congdon Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. John Congdon, (b. 1763), aged 27, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 22nd March 1788, sentenced for 7 years for stealing 2 sheep, transported Neptuneon 19th January 1790 to New South Wales, Australia 3

Congdon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Timothy Congdon, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cleveland" in 1839 4
Jane Congdon, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cleveland" in 1839 4
Eliza Congdon, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cleveland" in 1839 4
Sophia Congdon, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cleveland" in 1839 4
James Congdon, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cleveland" in 1839 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Congdon migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Congdon Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Congdon, aged 12, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1874 5
Mr. George Congdon, (b. 1844), aged 30, Cornish bootmaker departing on 6th May 1874 aboard the ship "Adamant" going to Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand arriving in port on 13th August 1874 6
Mr. John Congdon, (b. 1869), aged 5, Cornish settler departing on 6th May 1874 aboard the ship "Adamant" going to Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand arriving in port on 13th August 1874 6
Miss Sarah Congdon, (b. 1874), aged infant , Cornish settler departing on 6th May 1874 aboard the ship "Adamant" going to Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand arriving in port on 13th August 1874 6
Mr. William Congdon, (b. 1862), aged 12, Cornish settler departing on 6th May 1874 aboard the ship "Adamant" going to Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand arriving in port on 13th August 1874 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Congdon (post 1700) +

Henry Martyn Congdon (1834-1922), American architect and designer
George Congdon (1832-1909), Republican California politician and newspaper editor
Gary Congdon (1937-1967), American racecar driver
Lee Walter Congdon (b. 1939), American writer and historian
Jeffrey D. Congdon (b. 1943), American basketball player
Chester Adgate Congdon (1853-1916), American lawyer and capitalist
Charles Willsie "Chuck" Congdon (1909-1965), American professional golfer
Thomas Boss Congdon Jr. (1931-2008), American book editor
Amanda Congdon (b. 1981), American co-producer and host of a weekly vidcast for ABC
Joseph Whipple Congdon (1834-1910), American who contributed significantly to early botanical exploration in California, particularly in the Yosemite region
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CLEVELAND 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Cleveland.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf