NameCensus.

UK surname

Conner

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O Conchobhair," meaning "descendant of Conchobhar" (a personal name meaning "dog lover" or "wolf lover").

In the 1881 census there were 2,306 people recorded with the Conner surname, ranking it #1,938 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,079, ranked #3,111, down from #1,938 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Shettleston North and Ryedale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Conner is 2,306 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.8%.

1881 census count

2,306

Ranked #1,938

Modern count

2,079

2016, ranked #3,111

Peak year

1881

2,306 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Conner had 2,306 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,938 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,079 in 2016, ranked #3,111.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,306 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Conner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Conner surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Conner 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 2,100 #1,385
1861 historical 2,163 #1,350
1881 historical 2,306 #1,938
1891 historical 2,232 #2,089
1901 historical 1,965 #2,696
1911 historical 1,213 #3,889
1997 modern 1,901 #3,174
1998 modern 1,967 #3,199
1999 modern 1,958 #3,227
2000 modern 1,968 #3,205
2001 modern 1,919 #3,215
2002 modern 1,990 #3,185
2003 modern 1,885 #3,261
2004 modern 1,909 #3,225
2005 modern 1,881 #3,236
2006 modern 1,889 #3,246
2007 modern 1,863 #3,308
2008 modern 1,881 #3,303
2009 modern 1,979 #3,237
2010 modern 2,030 #3,237
2011 modern 1,998 #3,236
2012 modern 1,997 #3,199
2013 modern 2,027 #3,209
2014 modern 2,088 #3,143
2015 modern 2,084 #3,119
2016 modern 2,079 #3,111

Geography

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Where Conners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Edinburgh, Manchester and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Shettleston North, Ryedale and Fauldhouse. 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 London parishes London 3
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 031 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Shettleston North Glasgow City
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 010 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Ryedale 004 Ryedale
5 Fauldhouse West Lothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Conner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Conner

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Conner, 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 Conner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Conner 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Conner is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Conner is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Conner falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Conner 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 Conner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Conner

The surname CONNER has its origins in Ireland and Scotland, dating back to the medieval era around the 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "comharba" meaning "heir" or "successor", often referring to the heir of a religious leader or the successor of a saint. This name was commonly given to those who held hereditary roles in monasteries or ecclesiastical positions.

In Ireland, the name CONNER is believed to have originated in counties such as Antrim and Down, where it was often anglicized from the Gaelic "O'Conchobhair". This form of the name was prominent among families descended from the ancient kings of Connacht, one of the four major Irish kingdoms.

The CONNER surname can also be traced back to Scotland, where it was likely derived from the Gaelic "Conaraidh" or "Conaire", meaning "prosperous" or "high-minded". Early records show variations like "Connor" and "Connar" in areas like Argyll and the Hebrides islands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the "Annals of Ulster", a medieval chronicle from Ireland, which mentions a "Conchobhar mac Tomaltaigh" in the year 1166. Another notable reference is the "Domesday Book" of 1086, which lists a "Conor" as a landholder in Yorkshire, England.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the CONNER surname. These include:

1. James Conner (c.1630-1718), an Irish soldier and landowner who fought in the Williamite War in Ireland. 2. Patrick Conner (1789-1842), an American frontiersman and trapper who established Fort Conner in present-day Wyoming. 3. David Conner (1792-1856), an American naval officer who served in the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War. 4. Ralph Conner (1858-1942), a Canadian author and Presbyterian minister best known for his novels set in Western Canada, such as "The Man from Glengarry" (1901). 5. Ben Conner (1909-2003), an American football player and coach who played for the Chicago Bears and later coached at several universities.

While the CONNER surname has evolved over time, its roots can be traced back to medieval Ireland and Scotland, where it carried associations with hereditary roles, religious leadership, and even ancient kings.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Conner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Conner 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. Lancashire leads with 422 Conners recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.57x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 422 1.57x
Middlesex 341 1.51x
Lanarkshire 272 3.72x
Yorkshire 200 0.89x
Durham 162 2.41x
Surrey 90 0.82x
Renfrewshire 63 3.60x
Kent 59 0.77x
Warwickshire 58 1.02x
Cheshire 47 0.94x
Staffordshire 47 0.62x
Northumberland 45 1.34x
Ayrshire 33 1.95x
Cumberland 32 1.64x
Angus 31 1.48x
Midlothian 30 0.99x
Essex 28 0.63x
Glamorgan 28 0.71x
Sussex 28 0.73x
Worcestershire 24 0.81x
Derbyshire 22 0.62x
Devon 18 0.38x
Cornwall 17 0.66x
Wiltshire 17 0.85x
Leicestershire 15 0.60x
Gloucestershire 14 0.32x
Aberdeenshire 13 0.62x
Hampshire 12 0.26x
Argyllshire 9 1.43x
Herefordshire 9 0.97x
Isle of Man 9 2.14x
Dorset 8 0.54x
Fife 8 0.60x
Lincolnshire 8 0.22x
Monmouthshire 8 0.49x
Flintshire 7 1.15x
Wigtownshire 7 2.33x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.42x
Channel Islands 6 0.90x
Selkirkshire 6 2.93x
Dumfriesshire 5 1.00x
Northamptonshire 5 0.24x
Perthshire 5 0.49x
Somerset 5 0.14x
Stirlingshire 5 0.60x
East Lothian 4 1.34x
Inverness-shire 4 0.59x
Bedfordshire 2 0.17x
Berkshire 2 0.12x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.15x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.33x
Hertfordshire 2 0.13x
Orkney 2 0.80x
Oxfordshire 2 0.14x
Royal Navy 2 0.74x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.54x
Denbighshire 1 0.12x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.31x
Morayshire 1 0.28x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.03x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.14x
Shropshire 1 0.05x
West Lothian 1 0.29x
Westmorland 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 69 Conners recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.73x.

Place Total Index
Barony 69 3.73x
Liverpool 53 3.25x
Birmingham 49 2.58x
St Pancras London 44 2.42x
St Marylebone London 43 3.56x
Glasgow 38 2.93x
Manchester 38 3.15x
Widnes 37 19.13x
Govan 36 1.99x
Old Monkland 35 12.07x
Bermondsey 32 4.76x
Heworth 30 22.64x
Wigan 25 6.67x
Bethnal Green London 24 2.44x
Mile End Old Town London 24 4.99x
Bishopwearmouth 22 3.81x
Abbey 21 7.86x
Salford 19 2.41x
Leeds 18 1.42x
Liff Benvie 18 5.66x
Maryhill 18 12.58x
Shoreditch London 18 1.84x
Darlington 17 6.55x
Everton 17 1.99x
Trowbridge 17 19.24x
Templenewsam 16 98.64x
West Greenock 16 5.09x
Hackney London 15 1.18x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 15 5.15x
Shettleston 15 22.92x
Swansea Town 15 4.65x
West Ham 15 1.52x
Westminster St John 15 5.45x
Accrington 14 5.74x
Barrow In Furness 14 3.84x
Deptford St Nicholas 14 22.88x
Habergham Eaves 14 5.71x
Kimblesworth 14 155.56x
Oldbury 14 9.64x
Southwark St George Martyr 14 3.08x
Stockport 14 5.45x
Warrington 14 4.40x
Holy Trinity 13 2.41x
Merthyr Tydfil 13 3.44x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 12 3.06x
Bradford 12 2.21x
Bromley London 12 2.41x
Middlesbrough 12 4.11x
West Bromwich 12 2.75x
Bothwell 11 5.55x
Carnwath 11 24.34x
Oldham 11 1.27x
Paisley High Church 11 7.89x
Preston 11 1.53x
Stranton 11 4.86x
Wallsend 11 10.31x
Ashton Under Lyne 10 1.71x
Birkenhead 10 2.51x
Blantyre 10 13.14x
Glossop Dale 10 6.03x
Northolt 10 260.42x
St Botolph Aldgate London 10 21.49x
Batley 9 4.23x
Croydon 9 1.47x
Dalry 9 11.31x
Dewsbury 9 3.92x
Dover St James 9 26.64x
Edinburgh New 9 38.27x
Hindley 9 7.87x
Hutton Henry 9 63.56x
New Monkland 9 4.17x
Newington 9 1.08x
Spitalfields London 9 5.29x
Throckley 9 97.09x
Deptford St Paul 8 1.35x
Fulham London 8 2.44x
Hamilton 8 3.92x
Linthorpe 8 5.99x
Sheffield 8 1.12x
Whitwick 8 25.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 187
Elizabeth 63
Margaret 59
Ellen 54
Ann 49
Sarah 42
Catherine 40
Jane 27
Bridget 26
Eliza 23
Annie 18
Alice 16
Emma 15
Hannah 15
Louisa 12
Emily 10
Kate 10
Julia 9
Martha 9
Ada 8
Anne 7
Agnes 5
Amy 5
Charlotte 5
Florence 5
Maria 5
Rose 5
Amelia 4
Clara 4
Edith 4
Frances 4
Harriet 4
Isabella 4
Matilda 4
Anna 3
Caroline 3
Fanny 3
Johanna 3
Katherine 3
Lizzie 3
Lucy 3
Margeret 3
Rebecca 3
Susan 3
Catrine 2
Marianne 2
Millecent 2
Minnie 2
Miriam 2
Rachel 2

Top male names

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

FAQ

Conner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Conner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,306 people were recorded with the Conner surname. That placed it at #1,938 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Conner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,079 in 2016. That gives Conner a modern rank of #3,111.

What does the Conner surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O Conchobhair," meaning "descendant of Conchobhar" (a personal name meaning "dog lover" or "wolf lover").

What does the Conner map show?

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