NameCensus.

UK surname

Convery

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Connbhuidhe" meaning descendant of the victorious or valiant one.

In the 1881 census there were 204 people recorded with the Convery surname, ranking it #12,682 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,004, ranked #5,786, up from #12,682 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newcastle St Andrew, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Tyneside, Nitshill and Gateshead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Convery is 1,034 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 392.2%.

1881 census count

204

Ranked #12,682

Modern count

1,004

2016, ranked #5,786

Peak year

2010

1,034 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Convery had 204 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,682 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,004 in 2016, ranked #5,786.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 369 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Convery surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Convery surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Convery 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 107 #16,402
1861 historical 118 #18,512
1881 historical 204 #12,682
1891 historical 296 #11,215
1901 historical 369 #10,040
1911 historical 212 #14,423
1997 modern 935 #5,793
1998 modern 976 #5,788
1999 modern 1,010 #5,670
2000 modern 1,008 #5,655
2001 modern 968 #5,734
2002 modern 1,011 #5,638
2003 modern 987 #5,651
2004 modern 981 #5,682
2005 modern 991 #5,597
2006 modern 995 #5,589
2007 modern 1,011 #5,554
2008 modern 1,012 #5,598
2009 modern 1,031 #5,632
2010 modern 1,034 #5,718
2011 modern 1,023 #5,716
2012 modern 993 #5,768
2013 modern 1,001 #5,819
2014 modern 1,004 #5,840
2015 modern 1,009 #5,769
2016 modern 1,004 #5,786

Geography

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Where Converys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newcastle St Andrew, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Old Monkland. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Tyneside, Nitshill, Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne and Greater Lochgilphead. 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 Newcastle St Andrew Northumberland
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Old Monkland Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Tyneside 020 South Tyneside
2 Nitshill Glasgow City
3 Gateshead 005 Gateshead
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 031 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 Greater Lochgilphead Argyll and Bute

Forenames

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First names often paired with Convery

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Convery

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Convery, 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 Convery surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Convery 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, Convery 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

Convery 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

Convery 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 Convery 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Convery

The surname Convery originated in Ireland, specifically in the northern counties of Ulster. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, roughly between the 11th and 15th centuries. The name is derived from the Irish Gaelic term "Ó Conbhuídhe," which translates to "descendant of the yellow-haired one."

In ancient Irish records, the name appears with various spellings, such as O'Convery, O'Convry, and O'Convry. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where it is recorded as "O'Convry" in the year 1305.

The Convery surname has been linked to several notable figures throughout history. In the 16th century, Niall Convery was a renowned Irish chieftain and landowner in County Tyrone. During the same period, Fearghal Convery was a respected scholar and poet who composed works in both Irish and Latin.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the Hearth Money Rolls, a historical record of households in Ireland. One entry from 1665 lists a Patrick Convery as a resident of County Armagh. Additionally, the Convery family played a role in the Irish Rebellion of 1641, with several members participating in the uprising against English rule.

The 19th century saw the rise of Patrick Convery, a prominent Irish politician and member of the Irish Parliamentary Party. He served as a Member of Parliament for County Donegal from 1885 to 1900. Another notable figure was Michael Convery, born in 1836, who was a distinguished author and journalist known for his works on Irish history and culture.

In more recent times, Joseph Convery (1934-2003) was a respected Irish playwright and screenwriter, best known for his works exploring the complexities of life in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Additionally, Brendan Convery (born 1953) is a renowned Irish artist and sculptor, whose works have been exhibited internationally.

While the surname Convery has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, the historical records and notable figures mentioned above provide a glimpse into the rich heritage and legacy associated with this ancient Irish name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Convery families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Convery 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. Durham leads with 58 Converys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.38x.

County Total Index
Durham 58 9.38x
Northumberland 33 10.68x
Lanarkshire 28 4.17x
Renfrewshire 21 13.04x
Stirlingshire 19 24.79x
Ayrshire 12 7.72x
Isle of Man 8 20.74x
Perthshire 8 8.58x
Angus 6 3.12x
Lancashire 5 0.20x
Midlothian 4 1.44x
Argyllshire 2 3.46x
Yorkshire 2 0.10x
Clackmannanshire 1 5.83x
Derbyshire 1 0.31x
Kent 1 0.14x
Middlesex 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 4.04x
Surrey 1 0.10x
West Lothian 1 3.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heworth in Durham leads with 27 Converys recorded in 1881 and an index of 221.67x.

Place Total Index
Heworth 27 221.67x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 13 320.20x
Barony 11 6.47x
Govan 9 5.42x
Byker 8 52.36x
Campsie 8 190.02x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 29.88x
Monkwearmouth Shore 8 66.28x
Paisley High Church 8 62.40x
Stirling 8 82.82x
Westoe 8 22.83x
Blairgowrie 7 189.70x
East Greenock 7 46.05x
Gateshead 7 15.13x
Newcastle On Tyne St 7 43.70x
Rushen 7 268.20x
Stevenston 7 172.84x
Dundee 5 6.96x
Glasgow 5 4.19x
Kilmarnock 5 27.01x
Edinburgh New North 4 165.29x
Port Glasgow 4 51.41x
Liverpool 3 2.00x
Abbey 2 8.14x
Falkirk 2 11.15x
Lismore Appin 2 104.17x
Longbenton 2 15.28x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 10.83x
Old Monkland 2 7.50x
Alloa 1 12.02x
Burnley 1 4.82x
Denny 1 24.51x
Eston 1 22.32x
Glossop Dale 1 6.57x
Islington London 1 0.50x
Jesmond 1 22.99x
Lambeth 1 0.55x
Lanark 1 18.48x
Lezayre 1 57.80x
Livingstone 1 93.46x
Lochee 1 58.14x
Nether Hallam 1 3.59x
Perth East Church 1 11.38x
Salford 1 1.38x
West Malling 1 62.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Margaret 6
Catherine 5
Ann 4
Elizabeth 4
Alice 3
Jane 3
Rose 3
Sarah 3
Anne 2
Eleanor 2
Isabella 2
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Elizebath 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Kate 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
Patrick 5
Charles 4
Henry 4
James 4
Edward 3
Francis 3
Michael 3
Thomas 3
Andrew 2
William 2
Barnard 1
Bernard 1
Dennis 1
Edwd. 1
Hugh 1
Matthew 1

FAQ

Convery surname: questions and answers

How common was the Convery surname in 1881?

In 1881, 204 people were recorded with the Convery surname. That placed it at #12,682 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Convery surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,004 in 2016. That gives Convery a modern rank of #5,786.

What does the Convery surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Connbhuidhe" meaning descendant of the victorious or valiant one.

What does the Convery map show?

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