Contents [hide]

Connor History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Connor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland-Alt
Ireland
England

Etymology of Connor

What does the name Connor mean?

Today's Irish surnames are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Connor originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Conchobhair, derived from the personal name Conchobhar. 1

Early Origins of the Connor family

The surname Connor was first found in Connacht. There were six different septs of this famous name scattered throughout Ireland, of which four continue to boast many members. However, the most important O'Connors were those of Connacht, divided into three main branches: O'Conor Don; O'Conor Roe; and O'Conor Sligo.

The Connacht O'Connors were direct descendants of Conchobhar, King of Connacht, who died in 971 AD. Furthermore, this family produced the last two High Kings of Ireland: Turlough O'Connor (1088-1156) and Roderick O'Connor (1116-1196). It was the invasion of Leinster by Roderick O'Conner on behalf of the Prince of West Brefney that caused the King of Leinster, Dermod MacMorough, to flee to England for aid. This resulted in the Strongbow Invasion of 1168, the beginning of English domination over Ireland.

Despite remaining stubbornly Catholic, the O'Connor family continued to maintain their elite position among the Irish nobility throughout the entire period of British dominance.

Early History of the Connor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Connor research. Another 182 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1002, 1641, 1652, 1666, 1698, 1710, 1763, 1791, 1838, 1852 and 1906 are included under the topic Early Connor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Connor Spelling Variations

Pronunciation, rather than spelling, guided scribes and church officials when recording names during the Middle Ages. This practice often resulted in one person's name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname Connor are preserved in these old documents. The various spellings of the name that were found include Connor, Conner, Conor, Connors, O'Connor, Connores, Conner, Connar, Connars, O'Connar, O'Conner, Connair, Connairs, Connaire, Connaires, Cawner, Cawners, Caunnor, Cauner, Cauners and many more.

Early Notables of the Connor family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

Cabrach O'Conor and Hugh O'Connor, son and grandson of O'Conor Don, took a prominent part in the 1641-1652 wars
Bernard Connor or O'Connor (1666?-1698), Irish physician and historian, descended from an ancient Irish family, was born in the county of Kerry about 1666. 2
Charles O'Conor (1710-1791), was Collector of Irish manuscripts; Charles Owen O'Connor (1838-1906), President of the Royal Irish Academy; and Arthur O'Connor (1763-1852), was an United Irishman and ge...

Connor World Ranking

In the United States, the name Connor is the 1,077^th most popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. 3 However, in Australia, the name Connor is ranked the 548^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,038 people with that name. 4 And in New Zealand, the name Connor is the 658^th popular surname with an estimated 1,085 people with that name. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Connor as 439^th with 14,686 people. 6

Connor migration to the United States +

A massive amount of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century for North America and Australia in hopes of finding more opportunities and an escape from discrimination and oppression. A great portion of these migrants arrived on the eastern shores of the North American continent. Although they were generally poor and destitute, and, therefore, again discriminated against, these Irish people were heartily welcomed for the hard labor involved in the construction of railroads, canals, roadways, and buildings. Many others were put to work in the newly established factories or agricultural projects that were so essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the world. The Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s initiated the largest wave of Iris immigration. Early North American immigration and passenger lists have revealed a number of people bearing the name Connor or a variant listed above:

Connor Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Cornelius Connor, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 7
Arthur Connor, who arrived in Maryland in 1748 7
Catharine Connor, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1766 7
Laurence Connor, who landed in Virginia in 1769-1770 7
Charles Connor, aged 22, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1776 7

Connor Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Dominick Connor, who landed in New Castle, Del in 1801 7
Biddy Connor, aged 14, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 7
Andrew Connor, aged 45, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 7
William Connor, who landed in Louisiana in 1805-1809 7
Peter Connor, who arrived in Georgia in 1810 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Connor migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Connor Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Connor, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
Lt. Constant Connor U.E. who settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia c. 1783 8
Mr. John Connor U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 8
Mr. John Connor U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 8

Connor Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Margaret Connor, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1803
Jane Connor, who arrived in Halifax or New York in 1811
John Connor, who landed in Canada in 1816
Patrick Connor, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1819
John Connor, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1828
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Connor migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Connor Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss. Mary Connor, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. John Connor, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Boyd" on 10th March 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Miss Eleanor Connor, (b. 1777), aged 32, Irish needle woman who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 21st January 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Miss Catherine Connor, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. Cornelius Connor, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Connor migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Connor Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Connor, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Catherine Connor, aged 24, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 14
Peter Connor, aged 40, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 15
Esther Connor, aged 36, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 15
Jane Connor, aged 10, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Connor (post 1700) +

Major-General William Durward Connor (1874-1960), American Chairman of the Construction Advisory Committee, War Department (1941-1942) 16
Patrick Edward Connor (1820-1891), American Union General during the American Civil War
Ralph Connor (1907-1990), American Chemist, recipient of the Priestley Medal of the American Chemical Society (1967)
John Thomas Connor (1845-1907), United States attorney, political figure, US Secretary of Commerce 1965-1967
Sergeant James Phillip Connor (1919-1994), American soldier, awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944
Arthur T. Connor, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from East Haven, 1932 17
Arthur J. Connor, American politician, Delegate to New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention from Nashua 5th Ward, 1948 17
Arthur J. Connor, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Hampshire, 1932 17
Arthur F. Connor, American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut Republican State Central Committee, 1922; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Connecticut, 1928 17
Arthur E. Connor, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1928; Chair of Delaware County Democratic Party, 1936 17
... (Another 75 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Connor family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. James Connor, British Donkeyman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 18
Mr. John Connor (d. 1914), British Greaser from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 18

HMS Dorsetshire

Richard John Connor (d. 1945), British Stoker 1st Class aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 19

HMS Royal Oak

Ronald Connor, British Engine Room Artificer with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 20
Reginald John Connor (1918-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 20
Fred Connor (1903-1939), British Petty Officer Stoker with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 20

The Connor Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: O Dhia gach an cabhair
Motto Translation: From God Every Help

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Boyd
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd June 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 23) William Connor. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Connor/William_Durward/USA.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html