Show ContentsConte History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Conte comes from its first bearer, who was a person who held the noble title of Count. Such names were also occasionally bestowed as nicknames on those of undeservedly haughty or regal bearing.

Early Origins of the Conte family

The surname Conte was first found in Durham where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Conte family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Conte research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1196, 1225, 1262, 1293, 1327, 1769 and 1802 are included under the topic Early Conte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Conte Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Conte has been spelled many different ways, including Countesse, Cunte, Conte, Counte, Contesse, Count, Comitissa and many more.

Early Notables of the Conte family

More information is included under the topic Early Conte Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Conte Ranking

In the United States, the name Conte is the 4,535th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Conte is ranked the 891st most popular surname with an estimated 5,749 people with that name. 2


United States Conte migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Contes to arrive in North America:

Conte Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Ralph Conte, who landed in Virginia in 1650 3
  • Alex Conte, who landed in Virginia in 1658 3
  • Anthony Conte, who arrived in Maryland in 1659 3
Conte Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Conte, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1729 3
  • Marie Conte, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 3
Conte Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jean C Conte, aged 36, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 3
  • Nicolas Conte, who arrived in New Spain in 1876 3
  • Ferdinando Conte, who landed at New York from Palermo January 7, 1881
  • Baldain Conte and Nicolo Loconte, who arrived on SS Olympia from Naples at the Port of New York on 25 July 1896

Canada Conte migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Conte Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Miss. Ellen Conte, aged 6 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Odessa" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle on 4th September 1847 4
  • Mr. Samuel Conte, aged 40 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Odessa" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle on 19th August 1847 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Conte (post 1700) +

  • Steve Conte, American singer and rock musician and lead singer of the band The Contes
  • Silvio Ottavio Conte (1921-1991), American politician, Republican member of the United States House of Representatives
  • Nicholas Peter "Richard" Conte (1910-1975), American actor who appeared in numerous films from the 1940s through 1970s, including I'll Cry Tomorrow and The Godfather
  • James D. "Jim" Conte (b. 1959), American politician, Republican New York State Assemblyman for the 10th District (1988 to 2012)
  • Antonio Conte, Italian Olympian who won gold for fencing during the 1900 games
  • Antonio Conte (b. 1969), Italian former footballer, and now manager
  • Alison Conte Cerutti (b. 1986), Brazilian two-time gold and silver medalist beach volleyball player
  • Conte Carlo Antonio Manzini (1599-1677), Italian astronomer and mathematician


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. 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)
  4. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 21)


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