UK surname
An Anglo-Norman surname derived from Old French, potentially meaning "rabbit warren" or a nickname for someone small or timid.
In the 1881 census there were 95 people recorded with the Conely surname, ranking it #20,349 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 21, ranked #36,596, down from #20,349 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Ryton and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Conely is 121 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 77.9%.
1881 census count
95
Ranked #20,349
Modern count
21
2016, ranked #36,596
Peak year
1861
121 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Conely surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Conely surname density by area, 1861 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 | 112 | #15,913 |
| 1861 | historical | 121 | #18,148 |
| 1881 | historical | 95 | #20,349 |
| 1891 | historical | 33 | #31,681 |
| 1901 | historical | 57 | #27,846 |
| 1911 | historical | 24 | #30,800 |
| 1997 | modern | 26 | #35,135 |
| 1998 | modern | 28 | #35,053 |
| 1999 | modern | 26 | #35,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 28 | #35,080 |
| 2001 | modern | 25 | #35,248 |
| 2002 | modern | 26 | #35,338 |
| 2003 | modern | 23 | #35,650 |
| 2004 | modern | 23 | #35,786 |
| 2005 | modern | 17 | #36,407 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 17 | #36,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 21 | #36,470 |
| 2010 | modern | 20 | #36,599 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 16 | #36,897 |
| 2013 | modern | 16 | #36,955 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 21 | #36,596 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Ryton, Edinburgh, Manchester and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. 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 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 2 | Ryton | Durham |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Conely 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 Conely, 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 Conely surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Conely 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, Conely 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 Conely is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Conely, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Conely is believed to have originated in Ireland, specifically in the northern counties of Ulster. It is thought to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "Connla," which means "strong as a wolf." The earliest recorded instances of this surname date back to the 16th century.
One of the earliest known bearers of the Conely surname was Seamus Conely, who was born in County Antrim in 1542. Records indicate that he was a landowner and farmer in the village of Ballymoney. Another early reference to the name can be found in the Ulster Plantation Manuscript of 1611, which lists a John Conely as a tenant farmer in County Tyrone.
In the 17th century, the Conely surname began to appear in records beyond Ireland. In 1642, a Thomas Conely was recorded as a merchant in the city of Bristol, England. This suggests that some members of the Conely family had emigrated from Ireland and settled in other parts of the British Isles.
One notable bearer of the Conely surname was Patrick Conely, born in County Donegal in 1756. He was a soldier in the Irish Brigades of the French Army and fought in the American Revolutionary War as part of the Irish Regiment of the Armée Catholique et Royale. After the war, he settled in Pennsylvania and became a farmer.
Another significant figure was Bridget Conely, born in County Derry in 1803. She was a prominent activist in the Irish Republican movement and was involved in the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848. She was arrested and imprisoned for her activities but later released and continued to work for Irish independence.
In the late 19th century, a large number of Conelys emigrated from Ireland to North America, particularly to the United States and Canada, due to the Great Famine and other economic hardships. Some notable individuals with the Conely surname from this period include:
1. Michael Conely (1842-1918), a businessman and politician in Ontario, Canada, who served as a member of the Canadian Parliament. 2. Ellen Conely (1869-1945), a writer and journalist from New York City, who was known for her novels and short stories depicting Irish-American life. 3. John Conely (1876-1957), a labor organizer and union leader in the coal mining industry in Pennsylvania.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Conely 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. Lanarkshire leads with 36 Conelys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.40x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 36 | 12.40x |
| Angus | 12 | 14.43x |
| Durham | 11 | 4.12x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.56x |
| Renfrewshire | 6 | 8.63x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.33x |
| Midlothian | 3 | 2.50x |
| Stirlingshire | 3 | 9.06x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 1.28x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 3.08x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.22x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 1.20x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 1.49x |
| East Lothian | 1 | 8.41x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.33x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.18x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.33x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 16 Conelys recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.29x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Govan | 16 | 22.29x |
| Glasgow | 14 | 27.16x |
| Winlaton | 10 | 390.63x |
| Arbroath | 5 | 181.16x |
| Barony | 5 | 6.81x |
| Dundee | 5 | 16.11x |
| East Greenock | 4 | 60.88x |
| Strathblane | 3 | 731.71x |
| Aberystruth | 2 | 34.97x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 2 | 11.82x |
| Hipperholme Cum | 2 | 51.15x |
| Lochee | 2 | 270.27x |
| Neilston | 2 | 57.31x |
| West Calder | 2 | 84.39x |
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 1 | 5.76x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 1 | 4.30x |
| Aston Le Walls | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Currie | 1 | 135.14x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 8.81x |
| Hulme | 1 | 4.50x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.15x |
| Limehouse London | 1 | 10.15x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.55x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 1 | 6.66x |
| Prestonkirk | 1 | 169.49x |
| Salford | 1 | 3.19x |
| Shettleston | 1 | 38.46x |
| St Quivox | 1 | 44.05x |
| Swansea Town | 1 | 7.81x |
| Westoe | 1 | 6.61x |
| Wolverhampton | 1 | 4.29x |
| Woolwich | 1 | 8.84x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Conely 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 Conely 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 Conely households.
FAQ
In 1881, 95 people were recorded with the Conely surname. That placed it at #20,349 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 21 in 2016. That gives Conely a modern rank of #36,596.
An Anglo-Norman surname derived from Old French, potentially meaning "rabbit warren" or a nickname for someone small or timid.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Conely 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.