NameCensus.

UK surname

Connoly

Irish surname transferred from the Gaelic personal byname Ó Conghalaigh meaning "descendant of Conghalach".

In the 1881 census there were 413 people recorded with the Connoly surname, ranking it #7,794 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65, ranked #34,017, down from #7,794 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Govan Combination and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harlow, Islington and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Connoly is 413 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 84.3%.

1881 census count

413

Ranked #7,794

Modern count

65

2016, ranked #34,017

Peak year

1881

413 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 1998

Key insights

  • Connoly had 413 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,794 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016, ranked #34,017.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 413 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Connoly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Connoly surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Connoly 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 326 #7,136
1861 historical 343 #7,444
1881 historical 413 #7,794
1891 historical 359 #9,635
1901 historical 151 #17,988
1911 historical 129 #19,577
1997 modern 147 #21,393
1998 modern 132 #23,394
1999 modern 118 #25,227
2000 modern 87 #29,377
2001 modern 72 #30,813
2002 modern 78 #30,601
2003 modern 61 #32,352
2004 modern 61 #32,581
2005 modern 56 #33,264
2006 modern 55 #33,688
2007 modern 59 #33,634
2008 modern 66 #33,217
2009 modern 70 #33,182
2010 modern 68 #33,632
2011 modern 72 #33,323
2012 modern 63 #34,095
2013 modern 63 #34,193
2014 modern 65 #34,082
2015 modern 65 #34,036
2016 modern 65 #34,017

Geography

Back to top

Where Connolys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Govan Combination, 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 Harlow, Islington, Manchester and Sefton. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harlow 003 Harlow
2 Islington 011 Islington
3 Manchester 026 Manchester
4 Manchester 032 Manchester
5 Sefton 028 Sefton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Connoly

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Connoly

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Connoly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Connoly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Connoly 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

Connoly is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Connoly 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 Connoly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Connoly

The surname Connoly originates from Ireland in the late 12th century. It is an Anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name O'Conghaile, derived from the words 'cu' meaning hound and 'gal' meaning valor or bravery. The name likely referred to someone of a brave or valiant nature.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention several individuals with the surname spelled various ways such as O'Conghaile, O'Conghaoile, and O'Conolly. One notable entry from 1385 mentions a Domnall O'Conghaile who was a chief of the Muintir Anghaile clan in County Longford.

Over time, the spelling evolved to Connoly and other variations like Connelly, Connally, and Connolly as the name spread throughout Ireland. In the 16th century, the name appeared in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of official documents from the English administration in Ireland.

Several prominent figures throughout history have borne the surname Connoly. One early example is Richard Connolly (c.1570-1637), an Irish Jesuit priest and philosopher who taught at several European universities. Another notable individual was John Connolly (1750-1825), an Irish rebel leader who fought in the Irish Rebellion of 1798.

In the 19th century, John Connolly (1794-1865) was an Irish-American Catholic priest who established several churches in Philadelphia. James Brendan Connolly (1868-1957) was an Irish-American athlete who won gold medals in the 1896 and 1900 Olympic Games.

Finally, Cyril Connolly (1903-1974) was a British literary critic and writer best known for his works "Enemies of Promise" and "The Unquiet Grave."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Connoly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Connoly 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 119 Connolys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.56x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 119 2.56x
Middlesex 33 0.84x
Durham 30 2.58x
Yorkshire 29 0.75x
Midlothian 25 4.77x
Angus 20 5.52x
Renfrewshire 20 6.60x
Lanarkshire 16 1.26x
Lincolnshire 16 2.56x
Staffordshire 11 0.83x
Kent 9 0.67x
Glamorgan 8 1.17x
Cheshire 7 0.81x
Leicestershire 7 1.61x
Cumberland 6 1.78x
Devon 6 0.74x
Fife 5 2.16x
Wigtownshire 5 9.63x
Derbyshire 4 0.65x
Surrey 4 0.21x
Northumberland 3 0.52x
Warwickshire 3 0.30x
Clackmannanshire 2 6.19x
Dunbartonshire 2 1.90x
Perthshire 2 1.14x
Argyllshire 1 0.92x
Ayrshire 1 0.34x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.16x
Essex 1 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.19x
Peeblesshire 1 5.43x
Royal Navy 1 2.15x
Shropshire 1 0.30x
Stirlingshire 1 0.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 27 Connolys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.58x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 27 9.58x
Manchester 24 11.50x
Liff Benvie 16 29.09x
Govan 11 3.52x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 10 4.74x
East Greenock 9 31.44x
Great Grimsby 9 22.67x
Islington London 9 2.37x
Leeds 9 4.11x
Widnes 8 23.89x
Eastoft 7 864.20x
Edinburgh Old Church 7 166.27x
Leicester St Margaret 7 6.62x
Penshaw 7 200.00x
Bishopwearmouth 6 6.01x
Brightside Bierlow 6 7.89x
Merthyr Tydfil 6 9.16x
Port Glasgow 6 40.93x
Sheffield 6 4.86x
Walsall Foreign 6 8.80x
Wigan 6 9.25x
Farnworth 5 17.98x
Kirkcolm 5 200.80x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 7.97x
Poplar London 5 6.77x
Preston Quarter 5 52.97x
St George In East London 5 13.59x
Toxteth Park 5 3.18x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 3.94x
Blackburn 4 3.24x
Camberwell 4 1.60x
Dundee 4 2.96x
Gateshead 4 4.59x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 7.94x
Holy Trinity 4 4.29x
Kirkcaldy 4 34.84x
Newton In Makerfield 4 28.15x
South Leith 4 6.78x
Ardwick 3 7.17x
Barony 3 0.94x
Birkenhead 3 4.36x
Birmingham 3 0.91x
Chatham 3 8.17x
Eltham 3 38.36x
Everton 3 2.03x
Harborne 3 7.09x
Haslingden 3 15.61x
Heworth 3 13.08x
Spotland 3 5.81x
Westgate 3 8.32x
Westminster St Margaret 3 15.90x
Witton Gilbert 3 65.36x
Alloa 2 12.76x
Alyth 2 42.28x
Eastwood 2 10.71x
Eccleston In Prescot 2 8.58x
Edinburgh St Johns 2 60.42x
Elvet 2 23.81x
Golborne 2 33.06x
Heston 2 15.40x
Macclesfield 2 5.21x
Newchurch 2 5.27x
Otley 2 21.25x
Rainford 2 39.84x
St Pancras London 2 0.64x
West Derby 2 1.47x
West Greenock 2 3.68x
Westminster St John 2 4.20x
Ardrossan West 1 384.62x
Bispham 1 263.16x
Chester St Olave 1 128.21x
Dumfries 1 11.74x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 7.50x
Glasgow 1 0.45x
Kilsyth 1 10.87x
Lenton 1 8.05x
Leyland 1 12.38x
Leyton 1 7.52x
Over Darwen 1 2.70x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 37
Catherine 12
Elizabeth 11
Margaret 9
Bridget 8
Ellen 8
Sarah 7
Ann 6
Annie 4
Jane 4
Ada 2
Anne 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Alice 1
Catherin 1
Cecilia 1
Charlotte 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Lena 1
Margarett 1
Margretta 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 32
Thomas 19
James 15
Patrick 15
Michael 14
William 9
Martin 6
Micheal 6
Francis 5
Peter 5
Bernard 4
Daniel 3
Edward 3
Frank 2
George 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Andred 1
Arthur 1
Barnet 1
Burnard 1
Charles 1
Dennis 1
Ellen 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Hugh 1
Jas. 1
Jeremiah 1
Matthew 1
Owen 1
Patric 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
Thos.Jas. 1
Tim 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Connoly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Connoly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 413 people were recorded with the Connoly surname. That placed it at #7,794 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Connoly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016. That gives Connoly a modern rank of #34,017.

What does the Connoly surname mean?

Irish surname transferred from the Gaelic personal byname Ó Conghalaigh meaning "descendant of Conghalach".

What does the Connoly map show?

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