UK surname
From Irish Ó Conghalaigh, meaning "descendant of Conghalach", a personal name with uncertain meaning.
In the 1881 census there were 109 people recorded with the Oconnel surname, ranking it #18,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 33, ranked #35,829, down from #18,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Cammerton, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oconnel is 109 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 69.7%.
1881 census count
109
Ranked #18,793
Modern count
33
2016, ranked #35,829
Peak year
1881
109 bearers
Map years
1
1881 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Oconnel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Oconnel 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 | 82 | #19,317 |
| 1861 | historical | 80 | #23,566 |
| 1881 | historical | 109 | #18,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 80 | #26,785 |
| 1901 | historical | 98 | #23,119 |
| 1911 | historical | 72 | #25,642 |
| 1997 | modern | 53 | #32,329 |
| 1998 | modern | 45 | #33,374 |
| 1999 | modern | 36 | #34,323 |
| 2000 | modern | 36 | #34,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 37 | #34,082 |
| 2002 | modern | 44 | #33,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 39 | #34,296 |
| 2004 | modern | 37 | #34,640 |
| 2005 | modern | 36 | #34,894 |
| 2006 | modern | 36 | #35,131 |
| 2007 | modern | 42 | #34,905 |
| 2008 | modern | 38 | #35,262 |
| 2009 | modern | 34 | #35,608 |
| 2010 | modern | 34 | #35,730 |
| 2011 | modern | 34 | #35,705 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 34 | #35,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 33 | #35,843 |
| 2015 | modern | 32 | #35,876 |
| 2016 | modern | 33 | #35,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Cammerton, London parishes, Manchester, Wednesbury and Aberdare. 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 | Cammerton | Cumberland |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Wednesbury | Staffordshire |
| 5 | Aberdare | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Oconnel 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 Oconnel, 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 Oconnel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Oconnel 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, Oconnel 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 Oconnel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Oconnel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname OCONNEL is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic Ó Conghalaigh, meaning "descendant of Conghalach". The name Conghalach itself consists of two elements - "con" meaning strength or vigor, and "gal" meaning valor or bravery. It is believed to have originated in the 10th or 11th century in the province of Connacht, western Ireland.
The name OCONNEL can be found in various medieval Irish records and manuscripts, such as the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of the Four Masters. These annals document the activities and lineages of prominent Irish families and clans. One notable entry from 1201 mentions the death of Conghalach Ó Conghalaigh, a chief of the Síl Muireadhaigh clan.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name OCONNEL can be traced back to Donal Oge O'Connel, a 14th-century Irish nobleman and head of the O'Connel clan in County Kerry. He was involved in several conflicts against the Anglo-Norman settlers and is mentioned in various contemporary chronicles.
Another prominent figure bearing the name OCONNEL was Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847), an Irish political leader and advocate for Catholic emancipation in the early 19th century. He was widely known as "The Liberator" and played a crucial role in the campaign for Catholic rights in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
In the realm of literature, William Henry O'Connell (1859-1944) was a notable American author and poet. He published several works, including "The Case of Mary Blenkinsop" and "The Last Word", and was a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters.
Another figure of note was Maurice Francis Egan (1852-1924), an American author, diplomat, and educator who bore the surname OCONNEL through his mother's lineage. He served as the United States Minister to Denmark and wrote numerous works of fiction and non-fiction, including "The Vanguard" and "Lectures on Literature".
The surname OCONNEL has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Oconnellstown, Oconnellsbridge, and Oconnelloe, which reflect the historical presence and influence of the clan in different regions of the country.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oconnel 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. Cumberland leads with 10 Oconnels recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.90x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 10 | 22.90x |
| Durham | 10 | 6.63x |
| Glamorgan | 8 | 9.06x |
| Surrey | 7 | 2.83x |
| Kent | 4 | 2.31x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.80x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 5.25x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 2.94x |
| Carmarthenshire | 1 | 4.68x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.17x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.20x |
| Morayshire | 1 | 12.69x |
| Wigtownshire | 1 | 14.86x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Helmington Row in Durham leads with 10 Oconnels recorded in 1881 and an index of 1428.57x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Helmington Row | 10 | 1428.57x |
| Seaton | 9 | 1764.71x |
| Camberwell | 5 | 15.43x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 3 | 35.34x |
| Skipton | 3 | 189.87x |
| Swansea Higher | 3 | 326.09x |
| Woolwich | 3 | 46.95x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 2 | 7.32x |
| Llanwonno | 2 | 63.09x |
| Reading St Giles | 2 | 53.62x |
| Southwark Christchurch | 2 | 84.03x |
| Crosscanonby | 1 | 69.44x |
| Forres | 1 | 120.48x |
| Frindsbury | 1 | 153.85x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.74x |
| Llansadwrn | 1 | 625.00x |
| Sculcoates | 1 | 12.55x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 1 | 34.36x |
| Stranraer | 1 | 161.29x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Oconnel 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 Oconnel 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 Oconnel households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| General Labourer | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Millhand (Cotton) | 2 |
| Brick Labr | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Dom Servant | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Servant (Drapers) | 1 |
| Hatter (Journeyn) | 1 |
| House Keeper In Convent (Dom Serv) | 1 |
| Iron Pudlar | 1 |
| Ironer | 1 |
| Laborer In Brick Yard | 1 |
| Laborer In Coke Yard | 1 |
| Laborer India Rubber Works | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Pensioners Wife | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Plumbers Apprentice | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher | 1 |
| Rail Filer | 1 |
| Rail Straightener | 1 |
| Striker | 1 |
| Washer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 109 people were recorded with the Oconnel surname. That placed it at #18,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 33 in 2016. That gives Oconnel a modern rank of #35,829.
From Irish Ó Conghalaigh, meaning "descendant of Conghalach", a personal name with uncertain meaning.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Oconnel 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.