Show ContentsConnyke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished surname Connyke originated in Cornwall, a region of southwest England that is celebrated in the Arthurian romances of the Middle Ages. Though surnames became common during medieval times, English people were formerly known only by a single name. Under the Feudal System of government, surnames evolved and they often reflected life on the manor and in the field. Nickname surnames were rare among the Cornish, they did occasionally adopt names that reflected the physical characteristics or other attributes of the original bearer of the name. The name Connyke is a nickname type of surname for a rich and successful person. having derived from the Cornish word connock, of the same meaning.

Early Origins of the Connyke family

The surname Connyke was first found in Cornwall where "the manor of Hagland, [in the parish of Liskeard] which is situated almost wholly within the precincts of the borough, and which is said to have belonged to a chantry chapel at Launceston, was for many generations the property of the Connocks. It is now vested in Mrs. Arminel Inch and her sister, as devisees of the late Mr. Connock of Treworgy." [1]

Early History of the Connyke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Connyke research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1554, 1571, 1593, 1614, 1620, 1631, 1660 and 1675 are included under the topic Early Connyke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Connyke Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Conock, Conick, Connick, Connock and others.

Early Notables of the Connyke family

Notable amongst the family at this time was John Conock of Treworgie; John Connock, an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1554 and 1571; John Connock (1631-ca.1675), an...
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Connyke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Connyke family

Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Connyke or a variant listed above: John, Patrick, and Walter Connick, arrived in Philadelphia in 1853.



  1. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print


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