Submitted by William B. Cone

THE SURNAME "CONE"

The Scottish surname CONE is of patronymic origin. Patronymic surnames are those surnames which derive their origin from the first name of the father of the initial bearer. In this instance, the surname signifies the "Son of Conn or Con"; viz "Conn Caedecatha", the 110th Monarch of Ireland in the 2nd century A.D. and a descendant in the Heremon line of Milesius of Spain.

The Cones are noted of Scots-Irish lineage and are designated such to Auchry before 1539 A.D. Reference is made in 1650 A.D. in the recorded birth brieve of Gilbert Chalmer. The Cones or Cons of Auchry are and said to be recorded as descendants of William Con (five generations earlier), "Lauchful Sone" to Donald of the Isles and Kyntyr, chief of the MackDonald. Thus they are claimed to be a branch of the Clan Donald, the surname being assumed from the traditional name of "Siol Cuin or Con", the Clan name.  (S.C.M.,V,p.222 & Archaeologia Scotica,iv,p.376)

The surname Cone can be found throughout Scotland, especially around Aberdeenshire, where there was a prominent Roman Catholic family of the name from Auchry, in the parish of Monquhitter. George Cone (Conaeus as the name was Latinized) was the Pope's agent at the court of the Queen to Charles I in 1636 to 1639, and was the most prominent noted of the surname. The family were driven into exile after 1642 A.D. to France.  (Aberdeen Jour, notes and queries,M,p82)

References are also made to Alexander Cone, who was living in Auchry before 1522 A.D., John Cone, the fleshier, who was living in Edinburgh in 1508 A.D. (E.B.R.,p.114) and Thomas Cone, the merchant, who was living in Glasgow in 1606 A.D..

Scottish surnames are of infinite variety, having been derived from and influenced by the Celtic, Pict, Norman French, Scandinavian, Latin and Old Irish English languages. The usage of surnames in Scotland is believed to have begun in Lowland Scottish Regions in the 12th Century. The old Highland surnames, of Mackhoe, (Mahon) do date from the 13th Century. Surnames did not in fact become generally employed so in the Highlands until the 16th centuries. Surnames were so firmly established by the time of the Act of Union between Scotland and England, which placed both countries under the same Crown in 1707 A.D.

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