NameCensus.

UK surname

Oconnor

A surname of Irish origin, meaning a descendant of Conchobhar, derived from the Old Irish name meaning "wolf-lover" or "hound-lover."

In the 1881 census there were 3,030 people recorded with the Oconnor surname, ranking it #1,481 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23,629, ranked #251, up from #1,481 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rossendale, Brent and Halton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oconnor is 24,212 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 679.8%.

1881 census count

3,030

Ranked #1,481

Modern count

23,629

2016, ranked #251

Peak year

2014

24,212 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oconnor had 3,030 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,481 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 23,629 in 2016, ranked #251.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,461 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Oconnor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oconnor surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oconnor 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 965 #2,888
1861 historical 1,098 #2,557
1881 historical 3,030 #1,481
1891 historical 3,549 #1,349
1901 historical 5,104 #1,101
1911 historical 5,461 #956
1997 modern 21,856 #261
1998 modern 22,817 #260
1999 modern 22,978 #259
2000 modern 22,957 #257
2001 modern 22,420 #257
2002 modern 23,056 #255
2003 modern 22,418 #256
2004 modern 22,390 #256
2005 modern 22,197 #255
2006 modern 22,127 #257
2007 modern 22,479 #253
2008 modern 22,799 #251
2009 modern 23,208 #253
2010 modern 24,063 #250
2011 modern 23,796 #249
2012 modern 23,429 #248
2013 modern 23,973 #249
2014 modern 24,212 #246
2015 modern 23,824 #249
2016 modern 23,629 #251

Geography

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Where Oconnors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rossendale, Brent, Halton, Harrow 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rossendale 003 Rossendale
2 Brent 015 Brent
3 Halton 003 Halton
4 Harrow 011 Harrow
5 Sefton 037 Sefton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oconnor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oconnor

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Oconnor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Oconnor household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Oconnor is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Oconnor 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

Oconnor 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 Oconnor is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Oconnor

The surname OCONNOR is an ancient Irish surname with roots dating back to the 5th century AD. It originated in Ireland, specifically in the province of Connacht, where it was an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Ó Conchobhair, meaning "descendant of Conchobhar."

The name Conchobhar itself is derived from the Old Irish words "con" meaning hound and "chabhar" meaning desire or valour. It was a popular personal name among the Irish nobility, particularly in the powerful Uí Briúin dynasty that ruled Connacht for centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name OCONNOR can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. It mentions several prominent figures bearing the name, including Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair, who was King of Connacht from 1106 to 1156.

During the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century, the OCONNOR family played a significant role in resisting the Norman advance. They were among the last Gaelic royal families to maintain power in Ireland, with their kingdom centered around the ancient capital of Cruachan in modern-day County Roscommon.

One of the most famous historical figures with the surname OCONNOR was Rory O'Connor (1116-1198), the last High King of Ireland. He led the Irish resistance against the Anglo-Norman invaders and was eventually forced to abdicate in 1186, marking the end of the traditional Irish monarchy.

Other notable individuals with the surname OCONNOR include:

1. Arthur O'Connor (1763-1852), a Irish revolutionary and leader of the United Irishmen. 2. Frank O'Connor (1903-1966), an Irish author and memoirist, best known for his short story collection "Guests of the Nation." 3. Sandra Day O'Connor (born 1930), the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court, serving from 1981 to 2006. 4. Sinéad O'Connor (born 1966), an Irish singer-songwriter known for her distinctive voice and controversial public persona. 5. Donald O'Connor (1925-2003), an American singer, dancer, and actor who starred in numerous musicals and comedies, including "Singin' in the Rain."

Throughout its long history, the surname OCONNOR has maintained a strong connection to its Irish roots, even as its bearers have spread across the world. It remains a proud symbol of the ancient Gaelic heritage and the enduring spirit of the Irish people.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oconnor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oconnor 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 415 Oconnors recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.09x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 415 2.09x
Middlesex 324 1.94x
Yorkshire 130 0.79x
Lanarkshire 112 2.07x
Surrey 83 1.02x
Kent 52 0.91x
Durham 47 0.95x
Hampshire 43 1.26x
Northumberland 35 1.41x
Cheshire 33 0.89x
Midlothian 30 1.34x
Essex 29 0.88x
Derbyshire 28 1.07x
Gloucestershire 26 0.79x
Renfrewshire 26 2.01x
Staffordshire 25 0.44x
Warwickshire 20 0.47x
Cumberland 19 1.32x
Glamorgan 19 0.65x
Sussex 19 0.67x
Nottinghamshire 15 0.67x
Dunbartonshire 14 3.12x
Royal Navy 13 6.53x
Perthshire 12 1.60x
Northamptonshire 11 0.70x
Anglesey 10 3.38x
Monmouthshire 10 0.83x
Somerset 9 0.33x
Stirlingshire 9 1.46x
Aberdeenshire 8 0.52x
Cambridgeshire 8 0.76x
Channel Islands 8 1.62x
Devon 7 0.20x
Leicestershire 7 0.38x
Angus 6 0.39x
Herefordshire 6 0.88x
Isle of Man 6 1.93x
Fife 5 0.51x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 2.07x
Berkshire 3 0.24x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.43x
Wiltshire 3 0.20x
Worcestershire 3 0.14x
Ayrshire 2 0.16x
Cornwall 2 0.11x
Dorset 2 0.18x
Norfolk 2 0.08x
Shropshire 2 0.14x
Hertfordshire 1 0.09x
Inverness-shire 1 0.20x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.19x
Roxburghshire 1 0.33x
Suffolk 1 0.05x
West Lothian 1 0.40x
Westmorland 1 0.27x

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 103 Oconnors recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.55x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 103 8.55x
Govan 55 4.12x
St Pancras London 39 2.90x
Westminster St James 27 15.72x
Islington London 25 1.54x
Kirkdale 25 7.49x
Barony 24 1.75x
Glasgow 22 2.29x
West Derby 21 3.62x
Oldham 20 3.13x
West Ham 20 2.75x
Poplar London 19 6.02x
Bermondsey 18 3.62x
Everton 18 2.85x
Hulme 18 4.35x
Bethnal Green London 17 2.34x
North Meols 17 8.76x
St Marylebone London 17 1.91x
Toxteth Park 17 2.53x
Chelsea London 16 3.18x
Leeds 16 1.71x
Mile End Old Town London 16 4.50x
Kensington London 15 1.61x
Nottingham St Mary 15 2.57x
Portsea 14 2.09x
Sheffield 14 2.66x
Warrington 14 5.96x
Brighton 13 2.29x
Camberwell 13 1.22x
Newcastle Under Lyme 13 13.02x
Halifax 12 4.94x
Rotherhithe 12 5.81x
Shoreditch London 12 1.66x
Byker 11 8.95x
Deptford St Nicholas 11 24.31x
Little Bolton 11 4.31x
St Anne Soho London 11 11.53x
Beaumaris 10 91.66x
Burnley 10 5.99x
Colne 10 16.93x
East Greenock 10 8.18x
Sculcoates 10 3.81x
Bonhill 9 12.49x
Bradford 9 2.25x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 2.86x
Churchdown 9 138.04x
Clerkenwell London 9 2.28x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 1.00x
Merthyr Tydfil 9 3.22x
Milton In Gravesend 9 10.53x
Royal Navy 9 5.29x
West Greenock 9 3.87x
Alverstoke 8 6.45x
Birchington 8 100.25x
Birmingham 8 0.57x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 2.59x
East Ham 8 13.07x
Fulham London 8 3.30x
Hackney London 8 0.85x
Horton In Bradford 8 3.09x
Llanover 8 19.39x
Macclesfield 8 4.88x
Salford 8 1.37x
Seaton 8 47.68x
Wigan 8 2.89x
Aldershot 7 6.10x
Aston 7 0.60x
Bishop Auckland 7 10.50x
Blackburn 7 1.33x
Cranston 7 122.59x
Great Bolton 7 2.67x
Little Chester 7 213.41x
Manchester 7 0.79x
Northowram 7 6.03x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 2.08x
St Giles In Fields London 7 8.54x
St Helier 7 4.34x
Greenwich 6 2.26x
Hyde 6 5.51x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 6 25.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 125
James 64
Thomas 62
Patrick 52
Michael 45
William 32
Daniel 28
Edward 28
Charles 17
Joseph 15
George 13
Jeremiah 13
Martin 13
Arthur 12
Dennis 11
Cornelius 10
Henry 9
Timothy 9
Francis 8
Peter 8
Hugh 6
Maurice 6
Wm. 6
Frederick 5
Richard 5
Bernard 4
Denis 4
Edmund 4
Andrew 3
Owen 3
Philip 3
Roderick 3
Valentine 3
Albert 2
Christopher 2
David 2
Eugene 2
Frank 2
Garrett 2
Harry 2
Louis 2
M. 2
Simon 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Bartholomew 1
Dan. 1
Danl. 1
Wm.H.F. 1

FAQ

Oconnor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oconnor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,030 people were recorded with the Oconnor surname. That placed it at #1,481 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oconnor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 23,629 in 2016. That gives Oconnor a modern rank of #251.

What does the Oconnor surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, meaning a descendant of Conchobhar, derived from the Old Irish name meaning "wolf-lover" or "hound-lover."

What does the Oconnor map show?

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