Parent’s name

Conway surname meaning

Usually an Irish anglicization of several Gaelic surnames (including Ó Connmhaigh and Mac Conmidhe); also Welsh from the place Conwy.

Confidence: Disputed
US frequency: Rank 793 · 42,563 people
Common variants: Conway, Conaway, Convey, Conwy

Confidence: Disputed. More than one origin is plausible, or sources disagree. We show the conflict rather than pick a cute answer.

The short story

Conway covers more than one family history. In Ireland it was adopted as an English spelling for several Gaelic names pronounced roughly alike, including Mac Conmidhe, Ó Conbhuide, and Ó Connmhaigh or Mac Connmhaigh—descent formulas built on personal names. In Wales it can be habitational from Conwy (formerly Conway), the fortified town named for its river. Conaway and Convey are related anglicizations. Parent’s name is the catalog lead because Irish patronymic routes dominate many US lines, but the Welsh place stream keeps confidence disputed.

Also seen as: Conway, Conaway, Convey, Conwy

Sources used

Geneanet / DAFN entry for Conway (Irish anglicizations; Welsh Conwy)
Wikipedia 'Conway (surname)' (Welsh, Irish, and Scottish streams)
Names2020_LastNames_RaceHispanic_Top1000.xlsx (2020 Census)