CONNOR
Connor is a surname of Gaelic origin, chiefly found within the British Isles and more specifically in Ireland.
Its earliest form is the Irish patronymic Ó Conchobhair, which translates literally as “descendant of Conchobhar.” The personal name Conchobhar itself is a composite of the elements cu ‘hound’ and cobhair ‘help’ or ‘aid’, suggesting an ancestor characterised by strength and loyalty.
The surname is therefore frequently associated in historical records with attributes such as bravery, steadfastness and close loyalty to a patron or clan.
Variants of the name are numerous. In the Scottish Lowlands the spelling appears as Con, Cone, Connell, Connelly, Couroy, and Conne. The name is widespread in the Auchry area of Aberdeenshire and within the Province of Ulster. In Scotland it is reported to be an Anglicised form of the old Scots Gaelic Siol Cuin or Con, meaning “the seed or race of Con,” again a by‑name derived from con, ‘hound.’
Historical sources record a number of individuals bearing the name who are linked with the major clan structures of the Irish and Scottish Highlands. A William Con, described as the “lauchfull sonne to Donald of the Iles and Kyntyr, chief of the Mackdonald,” is cited as a descendant of Clan Donald who came to Ireland in the thirteenth century and served as a gallowglass in Ulster. In the same province the form Conn may also derive from the rare County Down patronymic Mac Mhiolchon, meaning “son of the hound‑like one.” Other notable bearers include George Con, the Pope’s agent at the court of Charles I’s queen between 1636 and 1639, and Agnes, daughter of Robert Conn, who was christened in Drumbo Presbyterian, County Down, on 1 August 1707.
The first documented spelling of the family name appears in a 1552 witness statement under the name William Conn, recorded among the documents of the laird of Balfour. This record was preserved in the Records of Aberdeenshire and dates to the reign of Queen Mary, known as “Mary Queen of Scots,” who ruled between 1542 and 1567.
Throughout the centuries bearers of the Connor name have maintained a strong Christian identity. The surname is therefore not only a marker of linguistic heritage but also of cultural and religious continuity within the Celtic tradition of the British Isles.
Typical given names associated with the Connor surname
Male
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Catherine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Jacqueline
- Kathleen
- Linda
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Conor
- Conary
- Conar
- Cohner
- Coneer
- Cagner
- Cainer
- Canar
- Canario
- Caneer
- Caner
- Canero
- Cannar
- Canner
- Cannor
- Cannur
- Canor
- Cauner
- Coiner
- Comnor
- Coner
- Conere
- Coners
- Conery
- Coniry
- Conmor
- Conna
- Connaire
- Connar
- Connard
- Connare
- Connaris
- Connars
- Connary
- Connearn
- Conner
- Connern
- Conners
- Connery
- Connier
- Connol
- Connon
- Connorey
- Connors
- Connorty
- Connory
- Connoy
- Conorey
- Conors
- Conory
- Conyer
- Conyers
- Coonar
- Cooner
- Couner
- Counor
- Cowner
- Cownor
- Coyner
- Cuner
- Cuyner
- Cwynar
- Gagnaire
- Gagner
- Gagnere
- Gagnier
- Gagniere
- Gainer
- Gainner
- Gainor
- Ganer
- Ganeri
- Ganier
- Ganir
- Gannar
- Ganner
- Gannor
- Ganor
- Gaynair
- Gaynar
- Gayner
- Gaynor
- Goenner
- Gonar
- Goner
- Gonera
- Gonner
- Goyner
- Guainiere
- Guanaria
- Guener
- Guenier
- Guiner
- Gunar
- Guner
- Guneri
- Gunier
- Gunnar
- Gunner
- Gunnor
- Gunor
- Guyner
- Kahner
- Kanaar
- Kanar
- Kanari
- Kaner
- Kaneria
- Kannair
- Kannar
- Kanner
- Kannor
- Kannur
- Kanor
- Kanoria
- Kaynar
- Kayner
- Kaynor
- Keaner
- Keehner
- Keener
- Keenor
- Kehner
- Keiner
- Kenar
- Kenear
- Keneer
- Kennair
- Kennar
- Kennare
- Kennear
- Kenner
- Kennier
- Kennir
- Kennor
- Kenor
- Kenure
- Keynor
- Kiener
- Kinear
- Kiner
- Kinnair
- Kinnar
- Kinnare
- Kinnear
- Kinneer
- Kinneir
- Kinner
- Kinniar
- Kinnier
- Kinra
- Koener
- Kohner
- Konar
- Konari
- Koner
- Koneru
- Konior
- Konnari
- Konner
- Konnur
- Koonar
- Kooner
- Kuehner
- Kuhner
- Kunar
- Kuner
- Kunner
- Kunor
- Quaynor
- Queener
- Quiner
- Quinnear
- Conroy
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Connor in...
Braille
⠉⠕⠝⠝⠕⠗
Morse
-.-.----.-.---.-.
Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Connor are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Gluten Free Lemon Cookie.
There are approximately 19,526 people named Connor in the UK. That makes it the 442nd most common surname in Britain. Around 300 in a million people in Britain are named Connor.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Connor
- Kit Connor - Actor
- Kenneth Connor - Actor (1918 to 1993)
- Terry Connor - Football player; football manager
- Ingram Cecil Connor - American singer-songwriter (1946 to 1973)
- Alice Connor - Actress
- Edric Connor - Trinidad and Tobago actor and singer (1913 to 1968)
- Jodie Connor - Musician
- Kevin Connor - Film and television director, film editor
- David Connor - Football player
- Clare Connor - Cricket player of England.
- Sean Connor - Football player
- Rodney Connor - Northern Irish unionist politician
- Cardigan Connor - West Indian cricketer
- Jake Connor - Rugby league football player
- Tommie Connor - Composer (1904 to 1993)
- Patrick Connor - Actor (1926 to 2008)
- Keith Connor - Athlete
- Girdon Connor - Anguillan football player
- Bobby Connor - Scottish football player
- Nigel Connor - Anguillan 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.