Surname Conor - Meaning and Origin
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Conor: What does the surname Conor mean?
The last name Conor is of Celtic origin, deriving from the Gaelic surname Ó Conchobhair. Its literal translation is “descendant of Conchobhar”, with Conchobhar being an old Gaelic personal name meaning “lover of dogs” or “hound-lover.”
It is believed that the name was brought to Ireland by two clans – the O’Davinons and the O’Mulroys. The O’Davinons were an Anglo-Norman family who came to Ireland in the 12th century during the Norman Invasion, while the O’Mulroys were an Irish-Gaelic family known to have held kingships in the area now known as County Leitrim.
The name became popular during the 19th century and many families bearing the name Conor have since moved to other countries such as Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK as a result of the Great Irish Famine of 1845-1852.
Today, the last name Conor has become entrenched in many cultures, not only within Irish culture, and is a reminder of the family’s past and heritage. As a proud bearer of this last name, it is a reminder of the proud Irish roots of the Conor family and its continued legacy in the modern world.
Order DNA origin analysisConor: Where does the name Conor come from?
The surname Conor is most commonly found in the British Isles, particularly in Ireland, Scotland, and England. In Ireland, the name is derived from the Old and Middle Gaelic names Conchobhar and Conchobor, and is especially common in the province of Connaught. According to the 2017 Irish Census, it is the 21st most common last name in Ireland.
Conor is also seen frequently in Scotland. It is a variant of the last name Connor, derived from the Gaelic Conchobhar. It is fairly widespread, although more commonly found in the eastern and northern regions of Scotland.
In England, the Conor spelling is rare, but the Connor spelling is the 39th most popular surname according to the 2012 United Kingdom Census. It is particularly popular in the western regions of the country, in particular in Wales. It is thought to have originated in the 12th century from the Welsh surname Cynwr, derived from cyn, meaning "chief".
Outside the British Isles, the surname is still relatively rare. However, there are small populations of Conors and Connors in small pockets around the world, particularly Australia, Canada, and the United States. It is especially popular in the city of New York, where it was recorded as the 220th most common surname in 2009.
Variations of the surname Conor
Conor is a popular Irish surname, most likely derived from either the Old Irish compound name Conchobar or the Gaelic Conchobhair. The original form of the name, Conchobar, is thought to mean “狗” or “hound-lover.” The more modern spelling of the name, Conchobhair, is thought to mean “龍” or “wolf-head.”
The most common variants of Conor include Connar, O’Conner, O’Connor and Conner. This Irish surname is also spelled Conyngham, Conngham, Coningham, Cunnigham, O’Cunnigham and Cunnighan.
The surnames of similar origin include Fitzconor, O’Connor-Foley, Connor-Gormley, Fitzconnor, Condron, and O’Connar, as well as Connors, Connarty and Connolly.
It is also noteworthy that the name Conor has similar roots to the Old English name Cuthbert, as both include the element of con meaning “狗” or “hound.” Additionally, there are other surnames which are of related origin, such as Culbert, Coulter, Colter, and Coulter.
In conclusion, Conor is a popular Irish surname of multiple variants, spellings and related origins. There are plenty of surnames with similar roots, which can provide clues as to the deeper history of those who bear the name Conor.
Famous people with the name Conor
- Conor McGregor: Irish professional mixed martial artist currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight Champion, and the first fighter in UFC history to hold two titles simultaneously.
- Conor Oberst: an American singer-songwriter best known for his work in Bright Eyes, a group centred around his acoustic guitar playing. He has also released solo records and several other projects, including the punk rock band Desaparecidos and the folk-rock supergroup Monsters of Folk.
- Conor Maynard: British singer, songwriter, actor, YouTuber and former vlogger. He was signed to EMI imprint Parlophone in 2011 and released his debut studio album the next year.
- Conor Kennedy: American environmental activist and assistant district attorney in the Manhattan office. He is a member of the extended Kennedy family and the son of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Conor Cruise O'Brien: Irish academic, author and statesman. He is best known for his essay on the Irish revolutionary constitutional document, the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
- Conor Sweeney: Irish Gaelic football player who currently plays for the Clare senior team and his club side St Senan's Kilkee.
- Conor Gillaspie: American professional baseball player. He has previously played for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Milwaukee Brewers.
- Conor Hourihane: Irish footballer who plays for Aston Villa Football Club in the Premier League and the Republic of Ireland national team. He plays mainly as a central midfielder and sometimes as a winger.
- Conor Evans: Welsh professional footballer who currently plays for League One side Fleetwood Town and the Wales under-21 national team.
- Conor O'Neil: Irish actor and producer. He is best known for his roles in the television series Ballykissangel and in the film The Wind That Shakes The Barley.