UK surname
Of Irish origin, a variant of 'O'Connell', meaning 'son of the high born powerful leader'.
In the 1881 census there were 106 people recorded with the Conell surname, ranking it #19,083 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #19,083 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, St Saviour Southwark and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Conell is 246 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 93.4%.
1881 census count
106
Ranked #19,083
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1861
246 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Conell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Conell surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 108 | #16,308 |
| 1861 | historical | 246 | #10,010 |
| 1881 | historical | 106 | #19,083 |
| 1891 | historical | 121 | #21,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 49 | #28,696 |
| 1911 | historical | 35 | #29,478 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 13 | #36,679 |
| 1999 | modern | 12 | #36,806 |
| 2000 | modern | 12 | #36,749 |
| 2001 | modern | 11 | #36,727 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, St Saviour Southwark, Govan Combination, Hawick and Wilton and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | St Saviour Southwark | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | Hawick and Wilton | Roxburgh |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Conell surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Conell, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Conell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Conell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Conell is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Conell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Conell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Conell originates from Ireland and is believed to have first appeared in the 12th century. It is a variation of the Irish Gaelic name O'Connell, which means "descendant of Conall" or "descendant of the strong wolf." The name Conall was derived from the Old Irish word "conall," which means "strong" or "powerful."
The Conell surname is closely associated with County Kerry in southwestern Ireland, where the O'Connell clan held significant influence and power during the Middle Ages. The O'Connell family was one of the most prominent and influential families in Munster, and they played a crucial role in various historical events in Ireland.
One of the earliest recorded references to the Conell surname can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, an Irish chronicle that covers events from the 5th to the 13th century. The annals mention several members of the O'Connell clan, including Diarmaid O'Connell, who was the chief of the clan in the 12th century.
In the 16th century, the Conell surname gained further prominence with the rise of Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847), a prominent Irish political leader and statesman who played a pivotal role in the Catholic Emancipation movement. He fought for the rights of Irish Catholics and worked tirelessly to achieve equal rights and opportunities for his countrymen.
Another notable individual with the Conell surname was William O'Connell (1859-1944), an Irish-American Roman Catholic prelate who served as the first Bishop of Richmond, Virginia, from 1920 to 1926. He was known for his commitment to education and social justice.
In the literary world, Norreys Connell (1909-1998) was a renowned Irish playwright and novelist. He is best known for his plays "The Mummy's Tummy" and "The Moonlighter," which explored themes of Irish identity and culture.
The Conell surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Conellmore and Connellmount, both located in County Kerry. These place names are believed to have derived from the O'Connell clan's presence and influence in the region.
Throughout history, the Conell surname has undergone various spelling variations, including O'Connell, O'Connill, Connell, Connill, and Conell. These variations arose due to linguistic changes, regional dialects, and the adoption of English spellings by Irish families.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Conell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 20 Conells recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.66x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 20 | 7.66x |
| Middlesex | 16 | 1.82x |
| Lancashire | 13 | 1.25x |
| Dunbartonshire | 10 | 42.39x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.80x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.17x |
| Angus | 3 | 3.69x |
| Essex | 3 | 1.73x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 2.05x |
| Renfrewshire | 2 | 2.94x |
| Argyllshire | 1 | 4.09x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.52x |
| Dumfriesshire | 1 | 5.16x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.56x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.35x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.85x |
| Roxburghshire | 1 | 6.29x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 3.09x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.87x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Easington in Durham leads with 9 Conells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2368.42x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Easington | 9 | 2368.42x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 7 | 31.22x |
| Bonhill | 7 | 184.70x |
| St Marylebone London | 5 | 10.67x |
| Everton | 4 | 12.05x |
| Skelton In Guisbrough | 4 | 170.21x |
| Southwick | 4 | 161.94x |
| Bethnal Green London | 3 | 7.87x |
| Kilmaronock | 3 | 1071.43x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 7.56x |
| Croydon | 2 | 8.42x |
| Dundee | 2 | 6.59x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 2 | 8.42x |
| Middlesbrough | 2 | 17.65x |
| Mistley | 2 | 425.53x |
| Newington | 2 | 6.17x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 6.20x |
| Port Glasgow | 2 | 60.79x |
| Salford | 2 | 6.53x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 2.83x |
| Barrow In Furness | 1 | 7.06x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 5.18x |
| Cadder | 1 | 47.62x |
| Dumfries | 1 | 52.36x |
| Dunoon Kilmun | 1 | 52.36x |
| Formby | 1 | 84.75x |
| Fulham London | 1 | 7.86x |
| Great Crosby | 1 | 35.21x |
| Halstead | 1 | 49.51x |
| Hawick | 1 | 28.09x |
| Liff Benvie | 1 | 8.10x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.58x |
| Macclesfield | 1 | 11.61x |
| Nawton | 1 | 909.09x |
| North Meols | 1 | 9.80x |
| Nottingham St Peter | 1 | 75.76x |
| Pemberton | 1 | 24.10x |
| Richmond | 1 | 16.69x |
| Slamannan | 1 | 56.50x |
| Southampton | 1 | 714.29x |
| Ulverston | 1 | 33.00x |
| Upton On Severn | 1 | 133.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Conell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Conell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Conell households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Coal Miner | 3 |
| Blacksmith | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Apprentice | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Clerk At Railway | 1 |
| Clogger | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Cook DS | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Dom Serv Housemaid Waitress | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Gardiner (Dom) | 1 |
| Gen Serv Dom | 1 |
| Housekeeper (LHK) | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Independent | 1 |
| Insurance Agent | 1 |
| Iron Miner | 1 |
| Match Box Maker | 1 |
| Mender Hos | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Pattern Maker (Artz) | 1 |
| Platelayer | 1 |
| Retired Housekeeper | 1 |
| Schol | 1 |
| Shepherd | 1 |
| Slater | 1 |
| Stationery Porter | 1 |
| Upholsterer | 1 |
| Washer Wm | 1 |
| Wife Of Above (Clerk) | 1 |
| Wood Turner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 106 people were recorded with the Conell surname. That placed it at #19,083 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Conell a modern rank of #37,967.
Of Irish origin, a variant of 'O'Connell', meaning 'son of the high born powerful leader'.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Conell bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.