Surname Conchie - Meaning and Origin
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Conchie: What does the surname Conchie mean?
The surname Conchie is believed to be a Northern Irish habitational name originating from the town of Conchra in County Antrim, Ireland. It is a derivative of the Irish name Cúige Choncheann which translates to mean 'Cúige of the Conchra'. The Conchie spelling almost certainly developed from the modern Irish spelling.
The use of the surname Conchie in Irish records can also be traced back to the 16th century and the Plantation of Ulster. It was during this period that several English and Scottish settlers were granted land in Belfast and nearby areas. As such, it is believed by some that the surname could have also been derived from either a Scottish Clan name or an English surname such as 'Cauncy'.
From the Irish records, the surname Conchie can be seen as being led by an Irish chieftain in the 16th century named 'Conchra Macneal o'hiny'. This man was actively involved in the founding of the town of Conchra in County Antrim. The descendants of this man continued to use the surname Conchie into the late 19th century.
Despite its Irish history, the surname Conchie is most commonly found in present day England and Scotland. In these countries, it is an occupational surname derived from the Middle English term 'conehe', which translates to mean 'a lookout'. This term was commonly applied to people who acted as guards posted on the wall of a castle or fort.
Order DNA origin analysisConchie: Where does the name Conchie come from?
The last name Conchie is most common today in Scotland, Ireland, and Northern England. It is an anglicized form of the Scottish and Irish Gaelic name Mac Conchradha, which is derived from the Irish Connacht, which literally means “brave one.” The surname Conchie originated in the 13th century, when a family by the name Conchradha occupied a district in the Province of Connacht. It is believed that this family is the origin of the last name Conchie.
In Scotland, the surname Conchie is most concentrated in the Perthshire and Kinross-shire districts, though there is a low frequency of the name in some other parts of Scotland as well. In Ireland, the name is most frequent in the counties of Galway, Meath, Westmeath, and Wicklow. In England, its most frequent occurrence is in the West Midlands region, particularly in the metropolitan boroughs of Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
The last name Conchie can also be found in other countries, most notably in the United States and Australia. In the United States, the Conchie surname is most frequently found in the states of New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. In Australia, the surname is most common in the Central Coast, New South Wales area.
Given its history and geographic distribution, it is likely that the surname Conchie originated in Scotland or Ireland before spreading to other parts of the world. Its current prevalence, however, suggests that the Conchie last name still remains mostly confined to these two countries.
Variations of the surname Conchie
The surname Conchie has various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The variants, spellings and surnames may be derived from the Gaelic and Irish culture and be seen as being anglicized.
One variant of the surname Conchie is the Irish spelling of Connaughy. This version of the name is likely derived from the Irish Gaelic surname O Connchaidh, which is a construction of the personal name Conn meaning ‘chief's or ‘freeman's cub’ plus the diminutive suffix -achu.
The surname Conchie can also be found spelt as Connachy, Conachy, Connoehy, Connachy, Connaghy, Connahy, Connochie, Connogen, Connagoe, Connato, Cownaghy, Conaghy and Cunnachy.
The surname can also be seen as McConchie and most likely springs from the Gaelic Mac Conchaidh, which once again is formed from the Gaelic personal name Conn.
Another version of the surname Conchie seen as often is the form Concaughy. This version of the name also has its origins in the Irish Gaelic O Concaghy which is derived from the Gaelic and Irish form Conchobhar meaning ‘lover of hounds’.
It can be seen that the surname Conchie has many possible alternative spellings and derivations of the same origin. The variants and surnames can be derived from the Gaelic and Irish interpretations of the personal name Conn, which is often seen as the root of many variations of the surname or its alternative spellings.
Famous people with the name Conchie
- Matt Conchie: rugby union player who had professional stints with Toulouse, Toulon, Castres, and Pau in France.
- Gary Conchie: former footballer who was part of the 1966 World Cup-winning England team.
- William Conchie: American actor known for his appearances in the films ‘Cradle of Fear’ and ‘Abduction of Innocence’.
- James Conchie: Scottish actor who has appeared in several television programmes and films, including ‘Taggart’ and ‘Midsomer Murders’.
- Jackie Conchie: long-distance runner who competed in the women's marathon at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.
- Georgia Conchie: New Zealand actress who gained recognition for starring in the 2002 film, ‘Rain’.
- Josie Conchie: Canadian novelist and children's author, whose works include ‘The Memory Stones’ and ‘The Secret of the Ruby Ring’.
- Chris Conchie: New Zealand rugby league player who has represented the country at international level.
- Tom Conchie: former Scottish professional footballer who made nearly 250 appearances for several Scottish clubs in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Jimmy Conchie: Scottish former professional footballer, who had a spell in the English Football League with Stoke City.