Conway

Conway is a surname and a placename used in English-speaking regions. As a surname, it appears in the British Isles and has spread to North America and beyond, with bearers active in a variety of fields including science, government, and the arts.

John Horton Conway (1937–2020) was a British mathematician renowned for his work in recreational mathematics and for popularizing mathematical ideas. He is best known for Conway's Game of Life, a two-dimensional cellular automaton in which simple rules generate complex patterns, and for several mathematical constructions and notations that bear his name.

Geographically, Conway denotes several places in the United States, including Conway, Arkansas; Conway, New Hampshire; and Conway, South Carolina. There are additional communities named Conway in other states.

In mathematics and computer science, Conway’s influence extends beyond the Game of Life through concepts and frameworks developed by Conway and collaborators, affecting education, the study of complexity, and recreational mathematics. The name Conway thus appears in personal, geographic, and scholarly contexts, reflecting a mix of heritage, place-names, and notable scientific contributions.