NameCensus.

UK surname

Conners

Anglicized form of the Irish surname "O'Conchobhair," meaning "descendant of Conchobhar" (a personal name meaning "dog lover" or "wolf lover").

In the 1881 census there were 164 people recorded with the Conners surname, ranking it #14,624 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 203, ranked #19,396, down from #14,624 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Gelligaer and St Bees. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn, Ballingry and Middlesbrough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Conners is 203 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.8%.

1881 census count

164

Ranked #14,624

Modern count

203

2016, ranked #19,396

Peak year

2016

203 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Conners had 164 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,624 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016, ranked #19,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 164 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Conners surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Conners surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Conners 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 72 #20,720
1861 historical 163 #14,242
1881 historical 164 #14,624
1891 historical 111 #22,421
1901 historical 144 #18,505
1911 historical 77 #25,106
1997 modern 159 #20,339
1998 modern 162 #20,673
1999 modern 160 #20,943
2000 modern 165 #20,501
2001 modern 151 #21,375
2002 modern 154 #21,531
2003 modern 142 #22,460
2004 modern 143 #22,471
2005 modern 155 #21,318
2006 modern 164 #20,715
2007 modern 173 #20,243
2008 modern 171 #20,595
2009 modern 181 #20,277
2010 modern 194 #19,819
2011 modern 200 #19,280
2012 modern 187 #20,086
2013 modern 191 #20,124
2014 modern 196 #19,961
2015 modern 198 #19,714
2016 modern 203 #19,396

Geography

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Where Conners' are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn, Ballingry, Middlesbrough, Carmarthenshire and Plymouth. 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 Gelligaer Glamorganshire
3 St Bees Cumberland
4 London parishes London 3
5 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn Fife
2 Ballingry Fife
3 Middlesbrough 011 Middlesbrough
4 Carmarthenshire 023 Carmarthenshire
5 Plymouth 002 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Conners

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Conners

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Conners is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Conners is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Conners falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Conners

The surname Conners is of Irish origin, emerging in the early medieval period, around the 9th or 10th century AD. It is derived from the Gaelic word "condair," which means "hunter" or "archer." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who were skilled in hunting or archery.

The Conners surname is predominantly found in the provinces of Ulster and Connacht in Ireland. The name is particularly prevalent in counties such as Donegal, Sligo, and Mayo. It is believed that the name may have originated in the area around Lough Conn in County Mayo, where a clan or sept known as the Connors or O'Connors resided.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the year 1107, the Annals mention a notable figure named Aedh O'Conner (or Ó Conchobhair), who was the King of Connacht.

Another historical reference to the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a collection of medieval Irish chronicles. In the year 1233, the Annals mention a certain Domhnall O'Conner, who was described as the King of Connacht.

In the 14th century, a prominent member of the Conners family was Toirdhealbhach O'Conner (1315-1356), who served as the King of Connacht and is renowned for his patronage of the arts and literature.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as O'Conor, O'Connor, and Conor, reflecting the linguistic variations and anglicization of Irish surnames.

In the 17th century, a notable figure was Hugh O'Conor (1615-1669), an Irish Franciscan friar and historian who wrote extensively about the history of Ireland.

Another prominent individual with the surname was Charles O'Conor (1710-1791), a lawyer and antiquarian who made significant contributions to the study of Irish history and literature.

In the 19th century, Roderic O'Conor (1784-1858), an Irish artist, was known for his landscape paintings and his work as a founding member of the Royal Hibernian Academy.

It is worth noting that the name Conners has also been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Connor in County Antrim, and Conor in County Sligo, further emphasizing its deep roots in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Conners families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Conners 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 34 Conners' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.05x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 34 2.05x
Glamorgan 33 11.43x
Cumberland 19 13.31x
Monmouthshire 13 10.85x
Yorkshire 11 0.67x
Pembrokeshire 7 13.28x
Aberdeenshire 6 3.91x
Channel Islands 6 12.21x
Lanarkshire 6 1.12x
Northumberland 6 2.43x
Surrey 6 0.74x
Durham 5 1.01x
Gloucestershire 5 1.54x
Lancashire 3 0.15x
Berkshire 1 0.80x
Devon 1 0.29x
Dumfriesshire 1 2.73x
Essex 1 0.31x
Hampshire 1 0.29x
Kent 1 0.18x
Leicestershire 1 0.54x
Northamptonshire 1 0.64x
Somerset 1 0.37x
Staffordshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedwellty in Monmouthshire leads with 13 Conners' recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.44x.

Place Total Index
Bedwellty 13 61.44x
Gelligaer 12 182.09x
Whitehaven 11 144.55x
Merthyr Tydfil 10 36.04x
St Pancras London 9 6.74x
Arlecdon 8 210.53x
Cardiff St John 7 74.23x
Pembroke St Mary 7 103.09x
Aberdeen Old Machar 6 18.71x
Shettleston 6 125.00x
St Helier 6 37.50x
Kensington London 5 5.42x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 33.94x
Bristol Christchurch 4 851.06x
Middlesbrough 4 18.69x
Shoreditch London 4 5.56x
Wingate 4 118.34x
Bermondsey 3 6.08x
Lambeth 3 2.08x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 41.78x
Stansfield 3 49.59x
Brightside Bierlow 2 6.21x
Chiswick 2 22.08x
Hackney London 2 2.15x
Old Artillery Ground 2 139.86x
St Marylebone London 2 2.26x
Swansea Town 2 8.45x
Westminster St John 2 9.91x
Brislington 1 200.00x
Cardiff St Mary 1 6.29x
Clifton 1 6.08x
East Denton 1 178.57x
Gate Fulford 1 26.04x
Greenwich 1 3.79x
Holywood 1 163.93x
Isleworth 1 13.57x
New Windsor 1 23.92x
Newcastle Higher 1 51.02x
Newchurch 1 6.21x
Normanby In 1 22.78x
Northampton All Sts 1 18.90x
Salford 1 1.73x
St Giles In Fields London 1 12.30x
Stockton On Tees 1 4.21x
Stoke Damerel 1 4.14x
Walton Le Dale 1 18.90x
Warblington 1 74.07x
West Ham 1 1.38x
Westminster St Margaret 1 12.50x
Whitwick 1 42.74x
Wolverhampton 1 2.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Ellen 8
Jane 5
Bridget 4
Agnes 3
Catherine 3
Elizabeth 2
Martha 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Catherin 1
Char. 1
Charlott 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Hannah 1
Harriott 1
J. 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Magie 1
Marcella 1
Margaret 1
Marguerite 1
Maria 1
Trese 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Conners surname: questions and answers

How common was the Conners surname in 1881?

In 1881, 164 people were recorded with the Conners surname. That placed it at #14,624 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Conners surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016. That gives Conners a modern rank of #19,396.

What does the Conners surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname "O'Conchobhair," meaning "descendant of Conchobhar" (a personal name meaning "dog lover" or "wolf lover").

What does the Conners map show?

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