This interesting name (once a byname) is of Irish origin, and is an
Anglicization of the surname "O'Conaire", which derives from the Irish
language, and can be analyzed as "O", meaning "grandson or descendant of",
and "Conaire" (deriving from "cu", a hound), meaning "keeper of the hound";
hence, "descendant of the keeper of the hound". Another, and equally correct
form of the original Irish surname is Maol, "(servant of) the keeper of the
hound". Traditionally, Irish family names are taken from the heads of
tribes, or from some illustrious warrior, and are usually prefixed by "O"
(as above), or "M(a)c", denoting "son of". The surname, with the variants
Conry and Connerry, is chiefly associated with the Province of Connacht.
Attempts at Anglicization resulted in a proliferation of forms as synonyms
such as Connery, Mulconry and Conroy; these were sometimes the result of
confusion with other distinctly different Irish surnames. The Conroy's were
the hereditary poets and chroniclers to the Kings of Connacht. The earliest
available recording in Irish Church Registers is that of the marriage of
Catherine Conroy to Michael Prendergast on November 27th 1846, at St.
Nicholas', Galway. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown
to be that of James Conroy, which was dated April 4th 1773, christened at
St. Mary's, Stepney, Whitechapel, London, during the reign of King George
111, known as "Farmer George", 1760 - 1820. Surnames became necessary when
governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll
Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to
"develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
© Copyright: Name Orgin Research www.surnamedb.com 1980 - 2007
First Generation - Joseph Conroy and Mary
McKinnon
1. Joseph Conroy
m: Mary I. McKinnon daughter of
Raymond McKinnon and Mary Stewart
children:
i. Patricia Conroy
ii. Kathleen
Conroy
