This is a Devonshire anglicization of the Welsh-Norman locational name de Caunteton - thought to derive ultimately from a place in Nottingham called Caunton. The place name was recorded as Calnodeston in the 1167 Pipe Rolls of that county so called from the Olde English pre 7th century personal name Calunod (from 'calu', bald, plus 'nod' daring) and the Olde English 'tun' a settlement. In Ireland, de Caunteton, is anglicized as Condon, where part of the Munster counties Cork, Limerick and Tipperary is called the barony of Condons. The Devonshire form Congdon is well recorded from the late 16th century on in the marriage records of that county. On April 13th 1755 one Joan Congdon married a William Lewis in Hartland. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Brigetta Congdon married Robertus Cocke which was dated August 1st 1597 in Buckland, Monachorum, Devon during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, Good Queen Bess, 1558-1603 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.

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