Surname Condon - Meaning and Origin

Condon: What does the surname Condon mean?

The surname Condon is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic "Condún," which is believed to be a place name. The "Con" prefix typically means "hound" or "wolf", suggesting a connection to a clan totem or emblem, while the “dún” suffix usually means "fort." Hence, the name could potentially mean "the fort of the hound (or wolf)". The name emerged from a prominent Irish clan based in County Cork in southern Ireland. It is also found in the variant forms such as Conden, Condone, and Condan. Like many Irish surnames, Condon may have originated as a nickname or descriptor of the original bearer before evolving into a hereditary surname.

Condon: Where does the name Condon come from?

The last name Condon is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Condún", which primarily originated in County Cork, in the southern part of Ireland. The name means "dark-haired wise man". The first recorded spelling of the family name dates back to the 13th century.

Condon was the name of a prominent Irish ecclesiastical and noble family; they were lords of Coshmore and Coshbride in the County of Waterford. They migrated to different parts of Ireland and the world as part of the Irish diaspora, brought about by social, political, and economic circumstances prevailing in Ireland over centuries, especially during the Great Famine in the mid-19th century.

Today, the surname Condon remains common in its home county of Cork, but can also be found in other parts of Ireland. Due to Irish immigration over the years, the Condon surname also has presence in countries around the world such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. However, it is still most prevalent in Ireland.

Variations of the surname Condon

The surname Condon, an anglicized version of an Irish Gaelic name, has seen numerous spelling variations over the centuries. Due to the pervading illiteracy of times past, the English and Irish languages lacked definite spelling rules which resulted in many deviations of the same original name.

The variations for Condon could include Cundun, Condun, Condown, Cunden, Cundan, Cundin, Condin, Conden, Condane, Connedane, Connedon, and Connedan. These are all varying attempts to represent the original Irish form - Ó Condúin.

Moreover, the Gaelic forms of the name Condon were O Conduin, which means descendant of Conduin, and O Cadhain, from the word "cadhan," which means wild goose. Therefore, the surnames Cadhan or Cahan could possibly be other derivations of the same root.

MacCandon or MacCondone are also Gaelic surnames derived from the same origins but denote they are 'son of Candon'. It's interesting to note that many of these names, despite their different appearances, have the same etymological roots.

The variant Condron is common in the Leinster counties of Offaly and Kildare, while in Munster, the real Irish form O Conduin, is usually anglicized as Condon.

This has affiliations with the Gaelic O’Condoins – hailing from Waterford and a part of the prominent race of Eoghanacht. Hence, Eoghanacht could signify a larger clan or association and could be considered linked to the origins of the name.

Famous people with the name Condon

• Bill Condon: An Oscar-winning American screenwriter and director, known for his work on films like “Gods and Monsters”, “Chicago”, and “Dreamgirls”. He also directed two of the "Twilight Saga" movies.
• Richard Condon: An American author who wrote popular works including "The Manchurian Candidate" and "Prizzi's Honor".
• Jennifer Condon: An Australian orchestral conductor who has led opera productions in Europe, Australia, and the United States.
• Edward Condon: A U.S. nuclear physicist and leader in quantum mechanics. He made significant contributions to the development of radar, and his survey of UFO sightings, "The Condon Report", was commissioned by the US government in the 1960s.
• Sharyn Condon: A renowned Australian netballer.
• Frank Condon: An American actor and playwright who appeared in Broadway shows in the 1920s and 1930s.
• Tim Condon: A notable British economist and banking executive.
• Neil Condon: A former Australian rules footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s.
• Karina Condon: An Australian softball player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
• Dan Condon: An Australian radio host at Double J.

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