NameCensus.

UK surname

Conn

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic byname "conn," meaning "chief" or "hound."

In the 1881 census there were 824 people recorded with the Conn surname, ranking it #4,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,551, ranked #3,990, up from #4,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Glasgow and Stevenston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maybole, Wiltshire and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Conn is 1,616 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 88.2%.

1881 census count

824

Ranked #4,559

Modern count

1,551

2016, ranked #3,990

Peak year

2010

1,616 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Conn had 824 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,551 in 2016, ranked #3,990.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,032 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Conn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Conn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Conn 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 479 #5,198
1861 historical 559 #4,715
1881 historical 824 #4,559
1891 historical 871 #4,716
1901 historical 1,032 #4,631
1911 historical 612 #6,734
1997 modern 1,521 #3,867
1998 modern 1,563 #3,910
1999 modern 1,584 #3,903
2000 modern 1,594 #3,869
2001 modern 1,538 #3,903
2002 modern 1,559 #3,951
2003 modern 1,495 #4,012
2004 modern 1,508 #3,977
2005 modern 1,509 #3,941
2006 modern 1,480 #4,015
2007 modern 1,496 #4,008
2008 modern 1,494 #4,045
2009 modern 1,552 #3,990
2010 modern 1,616 #3,923
2011 modern 1,602 #3,907
2012 modern 1,554 #3,953
2013 modern 1,571 #3,977
2014 modern 1,594 #3,950
2015 modern 1,575 #3,954
2016 modern 1,551 #3,990

Geography

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Where Conns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Glasgow, Stevenston, Dalry and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Maybole, Wiltshire, Sunderland, County Durham and Airdrie North. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Glasgow Lanark
3 Stevenston Ayr
4 Dalry Ayr
5 Paisley Abbey Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maybole South Ayrshire
2 Wiltshire 046 Wiltshire
3 Sunderland 034 Sunderland
4 County Durham 015 County Durham
5 Airdrie North North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Conn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Conn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Conn, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Conn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Conn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Conn is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Conn is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Conn falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Conn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Conn

The surname Conn is of Irish origin and is believed to have originated in the county of Galway, Ireland. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "cond," which means "chief" or "leader." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who held a position of authority or leadership within their community.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Conn can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The Annals mention a Conn O'Conor, who was a king of Connacht in the 12th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Conn was recorded in various spellings, such as Conne, Coun, and Coune. These variations likely arose due to differences in pronunciation and regional dialects.

The name Conn has also been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Connagh and Connaught. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

One notable figure with the surname Conn was Lough Conn (c. 1570-1629), an Irish chieftain and member of the O'Connor clan. He was known for his resistance against English rule in Ireland during the early 17th century.

Another historical figure with the Conn surname was Richard Conn (1834-1898), an American businessman and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from California in the late 19th century.

In the literary world, Conn was also the surname of the American writer and critic Silas Weir Conn (1925-2004), who was known for his works on the history of American literature and his criticism of modern poetry.

Other notable individuals with the surname Conn include: 1. John Conn (1726-1807), an American Revolutionary War soldier and early settler in Kentucky. 2. James Conn (1878-1963), a Scottish-American inventor and founder of the C.G. Conn musical instrument company. 3. Edward Conn (1923-2013), an American biochemist and author known for his contributions to the field of plant physiology. 4. Marie Conn (1914-2003), an American actress and dancer who appeared in Broadway productions and Hollywood films in the 1930s and 1940s.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Conn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Conn 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. Lanarkshire leads with 133 Conns recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.13x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 133 5.13x
Ayrshire 107 17.83x
Durham 107 4.49x
Middlesex 77 0.96x
Renfrewshire 71 11.43x
Aberdeenshire 58 7.81x
Worcestershire 50 4.78x
Yorkshire 47 0.59x
Essex 43 2.72x
Lancashire 21 0.22x
Surrey 16 0.41x
Banffshire 13 7.82x
Warwickshire 13 0.64x
Staffordshire 12 0.44x
Gloucestershire 9 0.57x
Midlothian 8 0.74x
Herefordshire 6 1.82x
Kent 6 0.22x
Argyllshire 5 2.24x
Northumberland 4 0.34x
Angus 3 0.40x
Berwickshire 3 3.09x
Buteshire 2 4.12x
Devon 2 0.12x
Sussex 2 0.15x
Cornwall 1 0.11x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.46x
Kinross-shire 1 4.93x
Perthshire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 44 Conns recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.86x.

Place Total Index
Govan 44 6.86x
Barony 41 6.25x
Stevenston 26 166.24x
Paisley High Church 25 50.54x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 23 16.55x
Claines 22 76.55x
Glasgow 20 4.34x
Kilwinning 19 98.04x
West Herrington 17 203.35x
Wolsingham 16 73.60x
East Greenock 15 25.56x
Poplar London 15 9.91x
West Greenock 15 13.45x
Abbey 14 14.77x
Beith 14 78.17x
New Monkland 14 18.26x
Aston 13 2.33x
Norton Mandeville 13 5000.00x
Aberdeen Old Machar 12 7.74x
Drumblade 12 456.27x
Edmonton 12 18.58x
Oldham 11 3.58x
Tottenham 11 8.61x
Mile End Old Town London 10 5.86x
York St Mary 10 30.39x
Dalry 9 31.87x
Daviot 9 638.30x
Pershore Holy Cross 9 134.13x
Tudhoe 9 43.12x
Upminster 9 273.56x
Blackmore 8 509.55x
Holdfast Queenshill 8 1568.63x
Hutton Henry 8 159.36x
Pershore St Andrew 8 138.41x
Usworth 8 63.14x
Winchcomb 8 102.56x
Cadder 7 36.55x
Kilbirnie 7 48.58x
Kingswinford 7 7.12x
Newbottle 7 53.72x
Sheffield 7 2.77x
Blantyre 6 22.22x
Camberwell 6 1.17x
Kilmarnock 6 8.40x
Kilmaurs 6 58.77x
Manchester 6 1.40x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 12.89x
Rastrick 6 27.19x
Shincliffe 6 225.56x
South Leith 6 4.96x
St George Hanover Square 6 4.25x
Winlaton 6 26.21x
York St Maurice 6 40.11x
Alvah 5 133.33x
Esh 5 28.80x
Keith 5 28.20x
Kilmore Kilbride 5 35.29x
Riccarton Hurlford 5 47.48x
West Rainton 5 67.75x
Ardrossan 4 19.26x
Battersea 4 1.36x
Beckenham 4 11.19x
Crook Billy Row 4 13.09x
Dreghorn 4 36.83x
Halifax 4 3.43x
Hereford All Sts 4 26.56x
Irvine 4 24.00x
Newington 4 1.35x
Sedgley 4 3.98x
St Marylebone London 4 0.93x
Westoe 4 2.96x
Chelmsford 3 11.05x
Gamrie 3 16.16x
Hinderwell 3 44.25x
Horsforth 3 17.22x
Langley 3 857.14x
Romford 3 11.99x
St Bartholomew Great 3 41.10x
Whitby 3 11.20x
Colwall 2 49.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 19
Jane 12
Margaret 11
Ann 8
Hannah 8
Annie 7
Emily 6
Martha 6
Alice 5
Eliza 5
Sarah 5
Emma 4
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Lucy 3
Rachel 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Isabella 2
Lydia 2
Marie 2
Maud 2
Susannah 2
Amy 1
Belinda 1
Caroline 1
Christiana 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Lillian 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Maggie 1
Marget 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 37
John 21
Thomas 15
James 13
Charles 9
Henry 8
Samuel 8
Alfred 7
George 7
Richard 7
Robert 6
Alexander 4
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Frederick 4
Herbert 4
Joseph 4
Walter 4
Luke 3
Michael 3
Wm. 3
Adam 2
Christopher 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Sidney 2
Archibald 1
Chrostopher 1
Clenelow 1
Daniel 1
Dennis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geore 1
Harry 1
Herbet 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Isaiah 1
Joshua 1
Martin 1
Mary 1
Maurice 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Reobert 1
Saml. 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Conn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Conn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 824 people were recorded with the Conn surname. That placed it at #4,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Conn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,551 in 2016. That gives Conn a modern rank of #3,990.

What does the Conn surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic byname "conn," meaning "chief" or "hound."

What does the Conn map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Conn 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.