NameCensus.

UK surname

Condon

Derived from the Irish surname "Condún," meaning "chief of the fort" or "wise and mighty chief."

In the 1881 census there were 811 people recorded with the Condon surname, ranking it #4,607 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,810, ranked #3,496, up from #4,607 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St George in the East and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Fenland and Croydon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Condon is 2,056 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 123.2%.

1881 census count

811

Ranked #4,607

Modern count

1,810

2016, ranked #3,496

Peak year

1998

2,056 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Condon had 811 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,607 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,810 in 2016, ranked #3,496.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,157 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Condon surname distribution map

The map shows where the Condon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Condon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Condon over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 430 #5,692
1861 historical 484 #5,397
1881 historical 811 #4,607
1891 historical 893 #4,613
1901 historical 1,039 #4,608
1911 historical 1,157 #4,036
1997 modern 1,987 #3,069
1998 modern 2,056 #3,090
1999 modern 2,056 #3,113
2000 modern 2,026 #3,133
2001 modern 1,957 #3,164
2002 modern 1,985 #3,195
2003 modern 1,945 #3,188
2004 modern 1,986 #3,136
2005 modern 1,918 #3,198
2006 modern 1,870 #3,278
2007 modern 1,904 #3,254
2008 modern 1,910 #3,261
2009 modern 1,975 #3,242
2010 modern 1,983 #3,302
2011 modern 1,935 #3,332
2012 modern 1,886 #3,347
2013 modern 1,882 #3,403
2014 modern 1,856 #3,467
2015 modern 1,839 #3,470
2016 modern 1,810 #3,496

Geography

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Where Condons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St George in the East, London parishes and Sileby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Fenland, Croydon and Sevenoaks. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 St George in the East London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Sileby Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 021 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Fenland 002 Fenland
3 Croydon 037 Croydon
4 Fenland 003 Fenland
5 Sevenoaks 007 Sevenoaks

Forenames

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First names often paired with Condon

These lists show first names that appear often with the Condon surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Condon

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Condon, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Condon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Condon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Condon is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Condon is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Condon falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Condon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Condon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Condon

The surname Condon originates from Ireland, where it first appeared in the 12th century. It is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Condún, meaning "descendant of Condún." Condún was a personal name derived from the Irish word "conn," meaning wise or prudent.

The name is believed to have originated in County Cork, where many early records of the Condon family can be found. The surname is particularly associated with the baronies of Condons and Clangibbon in east County Cork.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name is in the Pipe Rolls of Cloyne, a medieval document from the late 12th century, which mentions a "William de Condun." The Condon family is also mentioned in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, in the year 1295.

In the 14th century, the Condons were among the most powerful families in the region, holding significant landholdings and positions of authority. The Book of Munster, a 16th-century manuscript, records the Condon family as Lords of Condons and Clangibbon.

Notable individuals with the surname Condon throughout history include:

1. Thomas Condon (1815-1907), an Irish-born Catholic priest and geologist who made significant contributions to the study of paleontology in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

2. Edward O'Meara Condon (1902-1974), an American physicist who played a key role in the Manhattan Project and served as the director of the National Bureau of Standards.

3. Brendan Condon (1917-2003), an Irish politician who served as a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament, from 1954 to 1969.

4. Richard Condon (1915-1996), an American novelist best known for his satirical and political thrillers, including the novels "The Manchurian Candidate" and "Prizzi's Honor."

5. John Condon (1785-1828), an Irish-born Catholic priest and theologian who served as the first Bishop of Philadelphia in the United States.

The name Condon has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Condonstown and Condonshinnagh, reflecting the historical presence and influence of the family in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Condon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Condon surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 249 Condons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.08x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 249 3.08x
Surrey 107 2.71x
Lancashire 90 0.94x
Glamorgan 47 3.33x
Gloucestershire 28 1.76x
Kent 27 0.98x
Durham 23 0.95x
Essex 23 1.44x
Hampshire 23 1.39x
Yorkshire 19 0.24x
Cheshire 17 0.95x
Lanarkshire 17 0.65x
Leicestershire 14 1.56x
Monmouthshire 14 2.39x
Dorset 12 2.26x
Isle of Man 12 7.98x
Midlothian 10 0.92x
Warwickshire 9 0.44x
Brecknockshire 7 4.32x
Cambridgeshire 7 1.37x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.64x
Angus 6 0.80x
Channel Islands 6 2.50x
Devon 6 0.36x
Norfolk 5 0.40x
Royal Navy 5 5.18x
Somerset 5 0.38x
Flintshire 4 1.84x
Westmorland 4 2.25x
Worcestershire 4 0.38x
Northamptonshire 3 0.39x
Sussex 3 0.22x
Berkshire 2 0.33x
Lincolnshire 2 0.15x
Oxfordshire 2 0.40x
Renfrewshire 2 0.32x
Stirlingshire 2 0.67x
Wiltshire 2 0.28x
Cornwall 1 0.11x
Cumberland 1 0.14x
East Lothian 1 0.93x
Shropshire 1 0.14x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 37 Condons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.24x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 37 5.24x
St Marylebone London 28 6.48x
Whitechapel London 24 30.07x
Kensington London 22 4.89x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 21 14.05x
St George In East London 16 21.01x
Fulham London 15 12.77x
Bishop Auckland 14 43.32x
Hammersmith London 14 7.02x
St Luke London 14 10.78x
Aberdare 12 12.40x
Hackney London 12 2.64x
Islington London 12 1.53x
Liverpool 12 2.06x
Malew 12 91.39x
Aberavon 11 84.81x
Chelsea London 11 4.51x
Battersea 10 3.36x
Bermondsey 10 4.15x
Birkenhead 10 7.02x
Blackburn 10 3.91x
Cardiff St Mary 10 12.88x
West Derby 10 3.56x
West Ham 10 2.83x
Royton 9 30.62x
Southwark St Saviour 9 21.63x
St Botolph Aldgate London 9 53.99x
Camberwell 8 1.55x
Govan 8 1.24x
Leicester St Mary 8 11.03x
Poplar London 8 5.24x
Barnes 7 41.97x
East Ham 7 23.60x
Gorton 7 7.75x
Lancaster 7 12.25x
Llanover 7 35.02x
Portsea 7 2.15x
Potter Newton 7 49.47x
Ringwould 7 296.61x
Sawston 7 141.41x
Shoreditch London 7 1.99x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 4.30x
St George Hanover Square 7 4.91x
Glencorse 6 143.88x
Kirkdale 6 3.71x
Paddington London 6 2.02x
Snenton 6 13.99x
Southwark Christchurch 6 15.81x
St Pancras London 6 0.92x
Westminster St James 6 7.21x
Corfe Castle 5 101.63x
Glasgow 5 1.08x
Llangunider 5 49.55x
Manchester 5 1.16x
Old Artillery Ground 5 71.74x
Royal Navy 5 6.06x
Sileby 5 88.34x
St Helier 5 6.40x
Westminster St John 5 5.07x
Woolwich 5 4.90x
Ystradyfodwg 5 4.04x
Aston 4 0.71x
Barony 4 0.60x
Bradford 4 8.89x
Bristol St Stephen 4 97.09x
Dukinfield 4 4.84x
Dundee 4 1.43x
Edgbaston 4 6.32x
Great Yarmouth 4 3.88x
Greenwich 4 3.10x
Holy Trinity 4 2.07x
Newcastle Higher 4 41.80x
Over Darwen 4 5.21x
Poole St James 4 20.03x
Rhuddlan 4 20.88x
Shadwell London 4 17.65x
Sharples 4 38.39x
Westminster St Margaret 4 10.24x
Worcester St Peter 4 19.99x
Alverstoke 3 4.99x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Condon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 84
Elizabeth 27
Catherine 22
Margaret 21
Sarah 21
Ellen 20
Ann 12
Annie 12
Bridget 12
Eliza 11
Anne 10
Hannah 10
Kate 10
Alice 7
Jane 7
Amelia 4
Caroline 4
Esther 4
Florence 4
Maria 4
Rose 4
Ada 3
Charlotte 3
Emma 3
Frances 3
Johanna 3
Louisa 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Beatrice 2
Catharine 2
Clara 2
Fanny 2
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Honorah 2
Jessie 2
Kathleen 2
Lavinia 2
Lydia 2
Margeret 2
Margt. 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Ethel 1
Ethell 1
Eugene 1
Julia 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Condon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 78
William 47
James 33
Thomas 30
Richard 19
Edward 16
Michael 15
Patrick 14
David 11
George 10
Joseph 10
Alfred 8
Daniel 6
Charles 5
Thos. 5
Arthur 4
Henry 4
Maurice 4
Robert 4
Garrett 3
Jeremiah 3
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Hugh 2
Martin 2
Michl. 2
Nicholas 2
Timothy 2
Wm. 2
Ambrose 1
Billy 1
Donald 1
Edwin 1
Emmanuel 1
Gorge 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Horry 1
Jarrett 1
Jno. 1
Mark 1
Michail 1
Micheal 1
Morris 1
Pat 1
Patk. 1
Patt. 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1

FAQ

Condon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Condon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 811 people were recorded with the Condon surname. That placed it at #4,607 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Condon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,810 in 2016. That gives Condon a modern rank of #3,496.

What does the Condon surname mean?

Derived from the Irish surname "Condún," meaning "chief of the fort" or "wise and mighty chief."

What does the Condon map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Condon bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.