In Britain Conde is probably largely a topographical surname, that is, it was adopted by someone who lived at Conde. The primary and possibly only source of the name is from the parish of Cound in south Shropshire, where Condes were living as late as the 17th century. The name is also found on the border with Worcestershire as "A'Conde," short for "at the conde." At the time of the Domesday Survey (1086,) Cound was known as 'Cuneet.' The name appears to have been taken from a brook of the same name. Etymologists have not established a meaning for Cuneet, but suggest it is Celtic and named after a Celtic person. I would concur that the name is Celtic, but suggest that it is from the old Celtic, 'condate,' which means 'confluance of two streams' or 'rivers.' This is supported by the confluence of Cound Brook and Coundmoor Brook near the parish church. Thus, as a surname, Conde literally means 'descendant of one who lived at the confluence,' in this case of Cound Brook and Coundmoor Brook. Over the coming centuries it would be rendered as Cunette, Cunet', Cona, Conet, Conet', Coneta, Cuned, Conede. Later records, from the 15th-17th century, refer to Cound as Conde, Cond, Cund and Cound; including a 'John Prowde of Conde,' mentioned in 1470.

This surname has established a strong presence in Shropshire, particularly around Oswestry and Chirk. One member of the family, Charles Conde, played from the Wales international football team three times in the late 1800s.

The occurrence of the surname as "A'conde," is probably a reference to living on the Cound Brook, much in the same way as you find names like, atte-Brook - 'at the brook.'

There was also a French Hugenot Conde family living in south-east England from the late 16th century. This may account for a small presence of the name around London in the late 1800s. In France the surname has two origins, 'le Conde' - the count (occupational) and 'de Conde' - of Condé (topographical,) a common place name in France, which means 'at the meeting of two streams.' Thus the English and French topographical names are derived from the same root word.

Conde is also found as a surname in West Africa. Despite the French presence, the surname is native to the Mandinka people, whose legendary first king's mother was Sogolon Conde or Konde. This is patronymic surname, that is, it was adopted due to descent from a man named Conde.Stolen from Fore-bears

• 1395. Thomas de Conede and Christian, his wife (Rodington, Shropshire): Feet of Fines
• 1410: Thomas Conede, chaplain, of (Eaton Constantine, Shropshire): Feet of Fines
• 1560: Awdery, d. of John A'Conde, baptised: Bromfield, Shropshire Parish Registers
• 1568: John Aconde, buried: Bromfield Parish Registers
• 1618: Joyse, d. of Thomas Cond, baptised: Cleobury Mortimer Parish Registers
• 1661: Margarett, d. of John & Kathreen Counde, baptised: Acton Brunell Parish Registers

May be a local name from the town of Conde, in the French part of Hainault, which gave its name to a branch of the royal family of France, the Princes of Conde. Kundig or kundy, Dutch, signifies knowing, skillful, expert.