Surname Counce - Meaning and Origin

Counce: What does the surname Counce mean?

The last name Counce is thought to have arrived in America with immigrants from Germany and Eastern Europe. It is derived from the German, Czech, or Slovak word konc, meaning "end" or "terminus", so the name is likely to have originally been a topographic or toponymic surname given to someone living near an endpoint of a road or other path, such as a bridge or a ferry crossing. There is also evidence it arrived in the US from France; the French spelling is Caunce or Conse.

In the US, the surname is most often found in the states of Tennessee and Mississippi. Through record research, researchers have determined the name was carried by early settlers in the southeastern states, and in some cases was adopted by Native Americans who had moved to the area from other parts of the country.

Given the original meaning of the word, Counce is suggestive of journeying and exploration. It could be interpreted as an indication that the ancestors of bearers of the name were independent thinkers, determined to forge their own paths and stake a claim in new lands.

Today, the Counce surname is rarely found outside those few states where it first settled. The appearance of this last name on any family tree is a reminder that its bearers were adventurers who were willing to take a risk and blaze a new trail.

Counce: Where does the name Counce come from?

The last name Counce is most common today in the United States, with the highest concentrations being in the states of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. It has also been seen in other southern states such as Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana. The original bearer of the name is thought to have come from Counce, Tennessee, a small town located in Hardin County, TN. The name is highly localized to the southern US, and its popularity is thought to be the result of post Civil-War migration patterns during the late 19th century.

Today, the last name Counce is associated with a variety of professions, from legal and medical professions to blue-collar jobs. It can also be seen as a surname associated with small business owners and entrepreneurs.

The Counces, as they are sometimes referred to, have their own unique genealogy and family tree. Most members of the Counce family today are a result of intermarriages with other families in and around the Hardin County area.

Given its localized origin, the last name Counce is not common outside of the Southern United States, although it may pop up in other regions as a result of migration and intermarriage patterns.

Variations of the surname Counce

Counce is an English surname derived from Old English or Middle English terms for a counsellor or counselor, most likely reinforced by Middle English couunce “advice” and Old French conseil “counsel.”

Variants, spellings, and surnames of Counce include Counsell, Council, Cownse, Consel, Consell and Counsellor.

The variant forms each indicate a slightly different evolution. For example, Counsell likely traces to a spelling closer to the Old English “coun” or “con” root, while Council likely was influenced by the Middle English “conceil” root. Cownse and perhaps Consel and Consell likely arose through a mis-division of the letters in the word Counsel. It is likely that the spelling Counsellor remains closest to the original Middle English spelling.

Each of these spellings may lead to its own separate surname line, meaning that the same family could have multiple spellings of the same surname if members of the same family moved to different areas, or if different branches of the family adapted their surnames to fit the local usage. This is why it is important to look up all possibilities when researching a surname to avoid overlooking a branch of the family.

Famous people with the name Counce

• John Counce: a former American basketball player
• David Counce: a former American football player
• Scott Counce: a former American soccer player
• Jack Counce: a former American baseball player
• David Cousin: a former American ice hockey player
• Al Counce: a former American track and field athlete
• Percy Counce: a former politician and the Third Speaker of the House of Commons, United Kingdom
• Andrew Counce: a former American artist and art professor
• George Counce: a former American actor and former chairman of the Screen Actors Guild
• Mark Counce: a former American radio personality and voice actor

Other surnames

Council