Surname O'Connor - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
O'Connor: What does the surname O'Connor mean?
The last name O'Connor is of Irish origin, and it is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name 'O Conchobhair'. It means 'male descendant of Conchobhair', with Conchobhair being an old personal name meaning 'wolf lover'.
The O'Connor family was a powerful force throughout Irish history, particularly in the 11th and 12th centuries. In medieval times, the High King of Ireland - Malachy O'Connor - granted arena to the O'Connor's for their loyalty. Through this grant, the O'Conners gained land that stretched from Munster to Meath.
The O'Connor surname was later spread throughout the world through emigration during the 19th and 20th centuries. In many English-speaking countries, such as the United States and Canada, the spelling of the surname has been anglicized to Connor.
Today, the O'Connor name is still a well-known and familiar family name, with various variants of O'Connor and Connor scattered throughout the world. The name is popular in both Ireland and the United States, and its meaning is a reminder of the family's illustrious past.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Connor: Where does the name O'Connor come from?
The last name O'Connor is a historically Irish surname with a plethora of English, Scottish, and other international versions. The O'Connor surname originated in County Cork, Ireland, and is the most common surname in the Cork region. It is also a very common last name in Ireland as a whole and is ranked as the 13th most common surname in Ireland. Outside of Ireland, however, the last name O'Connor is most commonly found in countries with significant Irish immigration, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In the United States, O'Connor is the 98th most common last name, where it is most prevalent in Texas and New York with the highest population of O'Connors. In Canada, the surname is the 124th most common last name, and is particularly abundant in Ontario. In Australia, the last name is the 87th most common last name with the highest concentration in Victoria. In New Zealand, the last name is the 118th most common, with the highest concentration in Auckland.
The last name O'Connor is distinctively Irish, though it has been established for centuries in various countries around the world-as evidenced by the number of individuals that carry the last name. This is proof of the significant impact that Irish immigration has had in the world today.
Variations of the surname O'Connor
The surname O'Connor has numerous variants and spellings, as well as some surnames of the same origin. O'Connor is an Irish clan surname thought to have originated in the 10th century with the ruling Uí Conchobhair dynasty. Variations on the O'Connor name include Conor, Konner, Conner, O'Conor, O'Conner, OConner, O'Konnor, and Connors. O'Connor is also seen in its Gaelic form, O Conchobhair. Other surnames closely related to O'Connor include Connery, McKenner, and McKonnor.
The O'Connor clan was historically based in Connaught, however, they have since spread to Ireland's other provinces as well as other countries. As such, many variations of the surname appear worldwide. Scotland, for example, has evolved its own Scottish variant of O'Connor, Conchry. In England, the surname is spelled O'Connor and Connors, and as Connolly in Northern Ireland.
In France and Spain, the name is spelled Oconor. In the United States the spelling O'Connor is the most prevalent, although variations such as Conner and Connors can be seen as well. In Canada and Australia, the spelling Connor is the most common.
In some cases, the name O'Connor has been shortened to simply Connor or even just Con. Additionally, O'Connor is occasionally found in Germany, however, it is usually spelled Konner or Konnor. All in all, the surname O'Connor has numerous variants and spellings and no shortage of related names.
Famous people with the name O'Connor
- Sinéad O'Connor: Irish singer-songwriter
- Flann O'Connor: Irish author
- Mike O'Connor: American baseball player
- Dan O'Connor: American actor
- Joseph O'Connor: Irish novelist
- Peter O'Connor: Irish athlete
- John J. O'Connor III: American clergyman
- Solas O'Connor: Irish actor
- John O'Connor: former Canadian federal politician
- Rebbecca O'Connor: Australian rugby player