CONNER
Conner is a surname that can be found across the British Isles, predominantly in England and Ireland. The Anglo‑English records classify it as an occupational name, while the Irish tradition traces it back to a Gaelic patronymic.
According to Irish linguistic tradition, Conner is derived from the personal name Ó Conchobhair, which literally means “descendant of Conchobhar.” Conchobhar itself combines the elements cu meaning “hound” and cobhair, a term for “help” or “aid.” Consequently the surname connotes the attributes of a brave, loyal, and helpful individual, traits associated with the ancient Irish hero Conchobhar.
In the diaspora, the clan name O’Connor has frequently shed its Gaelic suffix and appears in several anglicised spellings such as Conor, Connor, Connors, Connar and Conner. All of these forms are historically linked to the same Gaelic stock of Conchobhair, yet each spelling reflects a distinct path of linguistic adaptation over time.
The earliest documentary evidence for the surname dates back to 971, where the name is recorded as belonging to The Chief Conchobhar, a notable figure who died in Connacht during the reign of the High King of Ireland (circa 925‑971). In England, Lord Edward Connor is mentioned in 1717 in St. Dunstans, London, and Edward Conner appears in 1744 at Christ Church, Spitalfields, London. These entries illustrate the surname’s early presence beyond Irish shores.
The O’Connor clan historically comprises six distinct septs that originated in Connacht, with the largest contemporary presence now in Munster’s County Kerry. Widely regarded as the most famous of Irish dynasties, the clan is traditionally associated with the last generation of the pre‑Viking Irish monarchy. The Gaelic etymology of the name, combining a “hound” and a “desire”, has been described as a Viking‑type compound that predates the 8th‑century Norse incursions into Ireland.
Thus the surname Conner embodies a complex heritage that spans occupational traditions in England and a rich Gaelic lineage in Ireland, reflecting both linguistic adaptation and historical continuity across the British Isles.
Typical given names associated with the Conner surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Steven
- William
Female
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Jane
- Julie
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Pamela
- Patricia
- Sally
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Coiner
- Cohner
- Conar
- Conary
- Coneer
- Coner
- Conere
- Coners
- Conery
- Coniry
- Connaire
- Connar
- Connare
- Connars
- Connary
- Connearn
- Conneran
- Connerly
- Connern
- Conners
- Connerty
- Connery
- Connier
- Connor
- Connorey
- Connors
- Connory
- Conor
- Conorey
- Conors
- Conory
- Conyer
- Conyers
- Coyner
- Kohner
- Koner
- Koneru
- Konner
- Comner
- Conaher
- Conmer
- Connard
- Connaris
- Conneh
- Connel
- Connerley
- Connet
- Connon
- Connter
- Cooner
- Konar
- Koneri
- Konior
- Konnari
- Konnur
- Gunner
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Conner in...
Braille
⠉⠕⠝⠝⠑⠗
Morse
-.-.----.-...-.
Semaphore
There are approximately 2,714 people named Conner in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,290th most common surname in Britain. Around 42 in a million people in Britain are named Conner.
Surname type: Occupational name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Conner
- David Conner - Dean of Windsor; Bishop to the Forces; Bishop of Lynn
- Dick Conner - Football player (1931 to 1)
- Jack Conner - Football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.