It is found mostly in North and West Africa, in particular Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea and France (a holdover from the French colonial empire in that region) but has also spread to North America.
[3] It is related to another clan name, Jara/Diarra,[4][2] and is heard in many of the chronicles that have been handed down orally.
[5] Both are frequently praised together in song, signifying bravery and fearlessness.
[4][6] There is also a similar German name, Köne, originating in the Old Germanic name Kuonrat (kōniz, meaning able, clever, and rēdaz, meaning help, advise.
The caste name is interchangeable with the names "Konar" and "Kovalar", being derived from Tamil word Kōn, which can mean "king" and "herdsmen".