NameCensus.

UK surname

Connon

A variant spelling of the Irish surname Connolly, likely derived from the Gaelic Ó Conghalaigh meaning "descendant of the valorous one".

In the 1881 census there were 385 people recorded with the Connon surname, ranking it #8,179 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 540, ranked #9,422, down from #8,179 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Old Deer, Long Benton and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Auchnagatt, Newcastle upon Tyne and Culter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Connon is 619 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.3%.

1881 census count

385

Ranked #8,179

Modern count

540

2016, ranked #9,422

Peak year

1901

619 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Connon had 385 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,179 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 540 in 2016, ranked #9,422.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 619 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Connon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Connon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Connon 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 402 #6,020
1861 historical 562 #4,687
1881 historical 385 #8,179
1891 historical 608 #6,315
1901 historical 619 #6,894
1911 historical 240 #13,281
1997 modern 517 #9,079
1998 modern 530 #9,179
1999 modern 531 #9,219
2000 modern 539 #9,094
2001 modern 518 #9,218
2002 modern 514 #9,451
2003 modern 521 #9,217
2004 modern 531 #9,100
2005 modern 528 #9,081
2006 modern 534 #9,026
2007 modern 526 #9,205
2008 modern 534 #9,168
2009 modern 542 #9,269
2010 modern 558 #9,260
2011 modern 544 #9,358
2012 modern 530 #9,445
2013 modern 550 #9,339
2014 modern 552 #9,362
2015 modern 551 #9,294
2016 modern 540 #9,422

Geography

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Where Connons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Old Deer, Long Benton, Glasgow, Liverpool and Longside. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Auchnagatt, Newcastle upon Tyne, Culter, Dunecht, Durris and Drumoak and Turriff. 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 Old Deer Aberdeen
2 Long Benton Northumberland
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Longside Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Auchnagatt Aberdeenshire
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 020 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Culter Aberdeen City
4 Dunecht, Durris and Drumoak Aberdeenshire
5 Turriff Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Connon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Connon

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Connon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Connon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Connon 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

Connon is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Connon falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Connon

The surname Connon has its origins tracing back to Ireland. It is believed to have originated from the Irish Gaelic name Ó Conaing, a patronymic form of the personal name Conang. The name Conang is derived from the Old Irish words "con" meaning hound or wolf, and "ang" meaning vigor or bravery, therefore signifying a brave and formidable individual.

The earliest recorded instances of the Connon surname can be found in ancient Irish manuscripts and records dating back to the 11th century. One notable reference is in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where the name Ó Conaing appears in entries from the late 12th century.

In the 16th century, the surname had variations in spelling, including Connon, Connan, and Connyn. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the interpretations of scribes who recorded the name in official documents.

The Connon surname has been prominent in various regions of Ireland throughout history, particularly in counties such as Galway, Mayo, and Sligo. One notable individual bearing this name was Patrick Connon, a 17th-century Catholic priest and scholar from County Mayo, who was renowned for his contributions to the preservation of Irish language and literature.

Another historical figure was John Connon, born in County Galway in 1785, who became a successful merchant and philanthropist in the city of Dublin, known for his support of various charitable causes and educational initiatives.

In the early 19th century, the Connon surname gained recognition in the literary world through the works of Irish poet and playwright James Connon, born in County Sligo in 1810. His poems and plays often depicted the lives and struggles of the Irish people during that era.

Moving forward, the Connon surname continued to be represented in various fields, including politics. One notable figure was Michael Connon, born in County Mayo in 1875, who served as a member of the Irish Parliament and was a prominent advocate for Irish independence.

Lastly, the Connon name gained international recognition in the field of science with the work of Irish physicist John Connon, born in 1901 in County Galway. He made significant contributions to the study of nuclear physics and was a respected figure in the scientific community.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Connon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Connon 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 213 Connons recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.08x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 213 61.08x
Lanarkshire 24 1.97x
Banffshire 17 21.76x
Kincardineshire 16 34.90x
Northumberland 16 2.86x
Midlothian 15 2.97x
Middlesex 9 0.24x
Perthshire 8 4.73x
Surrey 8 0.44x
Durham 7 0.62x
Lancashire 7 0.16x
Cheshire 6 0.72x
Sutherland 6 20.73x
Yorkshire 6 0.16x
Glamorgan 5 0.76x
West Lothian 5 8.82x
Cumberland 3 0.93x
Derbyshire 2 0.34x
Isle of Man 2 2.86x
Shetland 2 5.20x
Angus 1 0.29x
Devon 1 0.13x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.99x
Fife 1 0.45x
Gloucestershire 1 0.14x
Morayshire 1 1.71x
Roxburghshire 1 1.47x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x
Stirlingshire 1 0.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 60 Connons recorded in 1881 and an index of 91.95x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen St Nicholas 60 91.95x
Aberdeen Old Machar 57 78.29x
Longbenton 16 67.43x
Longside 15 360.58x
Gamrie 13 149.08x
Glasgow 12 5.55x
Barony 10 3.24x
Foveran 10 378.79x
Fetteresso 9 125.17x
Logie 8 132.01x
Peterhead 8 43.38x
Cruden 7 155.90x
Edinburgh Old 7 228.76x
Old Deer 7 105.90x
Battersea 6 4.33x
Belhelvie 6 252.10x
Clyne 6 257.51x
Monymusk 6 402.68x
Banchory Devenick 5 116.82x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 2.46x
Kirkliston 5 151.06x
St George In East London 5 14.12x
Wallasey 5 176.68x
Llanwonno 4 16.98x
Monquhitter 4 110.80x
Poplar London 4 5.63x
Stockton On Tees 4 7.41x
Tyrie 4 91.32x
Egremont 3 38.81x
Ellon 3 62.50x
Fraserburgh 3 30.55x
Lonmay 3 94.64x
New Deer 3 47.54x
Penshaw 3 89.02x
Toxteth Park 3 1.98x
Turriff 3 53.29x
Auchterless 2 72.20x
Ballaugh 2 160.00x
Church Gresley 2 21.32x
Crathie Braemar 2 95.69x
Glenbervie 2 158.73x
Govan 2 0.66x
Horsforth 2 24.45x
Lambeth 2 0.61x
Logie Buchan 2 200.00x
Melbecks 2 133.33x
Pitsligo 2 60.06x
St Fergus 2 101.52x
Yell South 2 212.77x
Alvah 1 56.82x
Bristol St Augustine 1 8.39x
Cairney 1 49.26x
Carrington 1 126.58x
Dewsbury 1 2.61x
Drainie 1 19.31x
Dundee 1 0.77x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 4.46x
Ermington 1 35.09x
Hawick 1 6.55x
Inverkeithny 1 84.03x
Liverpool 1 0.37x
Lumphanan 1 68.03x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 1.59x
Methlick 1 35.84x
Newington 1 9.73x
North Leith 1 4.28x
Old Kilpatrick 1 8.36x
Oyne 1 80.65x
Preston 1 0.84x
South Leith 1 1.76x
St Monance 1 37.59x
Stirling 1 5.71x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 0.74x
Strichen 1 33.00x
Tarves 1 30.30x
Weston In Runcorn 1 46.30x
Wigan 1 1.60x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Connon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Connon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 385 people were recorded with the Connon surname. That placed it at #8,179 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Connon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 540 in 2016. That gives Connon a modern rank of #9,422.

What does the Connon surname mean?

A variant spelling of the Irish surname Connolly, likely derived from the Gaelic Ó Conghalaigh meaning "descendant of the valorous one".

What does the Connon map show?

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