UK surname
An anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Conghalaigh meaning "descendant of Conghalach".
In the 1881 census there were 110 people recorded with the Connley surname, ranking it #18,695 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 34, ranked #35,768, down from #18,695 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Rutherglen and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Connley is 151 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 69.1%.
1881 census count
110
Ranked #18,695
Modern count
34
2016, ranked #35,768
Peak year
1861
151 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Connley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Connley 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 | 65 | #21,747 |
| 1861 | historical | 151 | #15,209 |
| 1881 | historical | 110 | #18,695 |
| 1891 | historical | 134 | #19,777 |
| 1901 | historical | 64 | #27,010 |
| 1911 | historical | 32 | #29,838 |
| 1997 | modern | 26 | #35,135 |
| 1998 | modern | 26 | #35,254 |
| 1999 | modern | 26 | #35,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 22 | #35,531 |
| 2002 | modern | 32 | #34,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 27 | #35,279 |
| 2004 | modern | 26 | #35,519 |
| 2005 | modern | 30 | #35,347 |
| 2006 | modern | 30 | #35,526 |
| 2007 | modern | 29 | #35,725 |
| 2008 | modern | 29 | #35,808 |
| 2009 | modern | 30 | #35,871 |
| 2010 | modern | 35 | #35,676 |
| 2011 | modern | 36 | #35,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 36 | #35,595 |
| 2013 | modern | 33 | #35,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 32 | #35,896 |
| 2015 | modern | 32 | #35,876 |
| 2016 | modern | 34 | #35,768 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Rutherglen, Toxteth Park, Edinburgh 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 | New Monkland | Lanark |
| 2 | Rutherglen | Lanark |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 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 Connley 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 Connley, 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 Connley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Connley 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, Connley 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 Connley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Connley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Connley is of Irish origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic personal name "Conla", which means "strong wolf". The name Connley is derived from this personal name and the addition of the suffix "-ey" or "-y", which was commonly used to form surnames in Ireland.
The earliest known record of the surname Connley dates back to 1587 in County Sligo, Ireland, where it was found in the Fiants of the Tudor monarchs. The Fiants were official records of the Tudor government in Ireland, which documented various legal transactions and appointments.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Connley surname was particularly prominent in counties such as Sligo, Mayo, and Galway in the western province of Connacht, Ireland. It is possible that the name was influenced by the place name "Conley" or "Connelly", which are variations of the same surname.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Connley was Patrick Connley, who was born in County Mayo in the late 17th century. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the Irish Parliament in the early 1700s.
In the 19th century, the Connley surname gained recognition through the works of writer and poet Michael Connley, who was born in County Sligo in 1815. He published several volumes of poetry and was renowned for his vivid depictions of Irish rural life.
Another notable figure was James Connley, born in 1845 in County Mayo. He was a prominent political activist and trade unionist, playing a significant role in the Irish Labor Movement and the events surrounding the Easter Rising of 1916.
The surname Connley is also associated with the place name "Conley's Grove", a small village in County Galway. This village was named after the Connley family, who were landowners in the area during the 18th and 19th centuries.
In the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Connley was Seán Connley, born in 1901 in County Mayo. He was a renowned Irish language scholar and author, and made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of the Irish language and literature.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Connley 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. Lancashire leads with 22 Connleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.73x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 22 | 1.73x |
| Angus | 12 | 12.07x |
| Lanarkshire | 11 | 3.17x |
| Durham | 10 | 3.13x |
| East Lothian | 9 | 63.34x |
| Glamorgan | 7 | 3.75x |
| Northumberland | 7 | 4.38x |
| Ayrshire | 5 | 6.23x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.47x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 3.46x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 2.85x |
| Herefordshire | 3 | 6.82x |
| Renfrewshire | 3 | 3.61x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.42x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.47x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 2.08x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 2.53x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.19x |
| Wigtownshire | 1 | 7.02x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.09x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. New Monkland in Lanarkshire leads with 10 Connleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 97.47x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| New Monkland | 10 | 97.47x |
| Liverpool | 9 | 11.64x |
| Dundee | 8 | 21.56x |
| Clase | 7 | 100.72x |
| Toxteth Park | 7 | 16.23x |
| Elswick | 5 | 39.25x |
| Newark Upon Trent | 5 | 96.15x |
| Whittinghame | 5 | 2083.33x |
| Worsley | 5 | 63.69x |
| Bow London | 4 | 29.28x |
| Dalry | 4 | 105.82x |
| Dirleton | 4 | 714.29x |
| Rochford | 4 | 3333.33x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 3 | 10.95x |
| Port Glasgow | 3 | 74.63x |
| Stranton | 3 | 27.91x |
| Monkwearmouth Shore | 2 | 32.10x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 2 | 20.96x |
| Ross | 2 | 114.29x |
| Strathmartine | 2 | 454.55x |
| Arbroath | 1 | 30.40x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 5.30x |
| Chipping Ongar | 1 | 277.78x |
| Elvet | 1 | 43.48x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 1.62x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 3.91x |
| Kilwinning | 1 | 38.61x |
| Kirkcolm | 1 | 147.06x |
| Lamesley | 1 | 58.14x |
| Liff Benvie | 1 | 6.63x |
| Middleton On Hill | 1 | 714.29x |
| Perth West Church | 1 | 43.67x |
| Southwark St Saviour | 1 | 18.15x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.16x |
| Strathblane | 1 | 204.08x |
| Ulverston | 1 | 26.95x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Connley 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 Connley 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 Connley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Dock Lab | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Wife | 2 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coachman Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Cordwainer | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| General Labour | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Glassmaker | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Iron Moulder | 1 |
| Lab In Foundry (Iron) | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer (Timber Yard) | 1 |
| Labourer Ships | 1 |
| Scavenger | 1 |
| School | 1 |
| Shepherd | 1 |
| Steelwork Wire Maker | 1 |
| Tramp (No Occ) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 110 people were recorded with the Connley surname. That placed it at #18,695 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 34 in 2016. That gives Connley a modern rank of #35,768.
An anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Conghalaigh meaning "descendant of Conghalach".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Connley 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.