Surname Conner - Meaning and Origin

An Odyssey into the Past: Discovering the Irish Roots and Rich History of the 'Conner' Surname

Embarking on a voyage of ancestral discovery through the iGENEA DNA test, I uncovered the historical roots of my surname, 'Conner'. Immerse in the vibrant Irish past my ancestors once occupied - filled with stories of clans, kings, and resilience in challenging times, and also discovered a surprising Jewish lineage - thereby transforming the understanding of my familial origins.

I. Conner

Conner: What does the surname Conner mean?

The surname Conner is of Irish origin and derives from the Gaelic name "O'Connor" which literally translates to "descendant of Conchobhar." The name Conchobhar itself is a compound of two distinct elements- "con," meaning hound or wolf, and "chobhar," meaning desiring. Therefore, the surname can metaphorically mean "descendant of the Wolf-lover" or "descendant of the Hound-desirer." It is a patronymic name, meant to indicate lineage and descent. It is a common surname in Ireland due to the several influential families in Irish history who bore this name. Over time, variations of this name, such as "Connor," "O'Connor," "Conor," and "Conner," have come about, spread across different regions and adopted by many non-Irish families as well.

Conner: Where does the name Conner come from?

The surname Conner is of Irish origin. It is an anglicized form of two Gaelic names: "O'Conchobhair," which means "descendant of Conchobhar," and "O'Connor," meaning "descendant of the hound of desire." The Conner surname has many spelling variations including Connors, Conner, Conor, and many more, due primarily to the way it translates between Gaelic and English.

The name is associated with several Irish clans and families, the most significant being the O'Conners of Connacht who were Irish kings and one of Ireland's leading families until the 17th century.

Today, the Conner surname is common in countries with a high Irish diaspora, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK. It remains fairly common in Ireland as well. According to Forebears, the highest concentrations of the surname Conner can be found in the United States followed by England and Australia. The vast majority of Conners reside in English-speaking countries.

Variations of the surname Conner

The surname Conner has various variants, spellings, and related surnames due to regional differences, phonetic spellings, or translations. These include Conor, Konner, Konnor, Konor, O'Conner, Connors, Connar, Coner, and Conors.

Some more variations include Koner, Kooner, Kuonner and Kuhner. It's also possible that the surname may have been anglicized after families immigrated, resulting in a diverse range of surnames. For example, the Irish surname O'Conor, often anglicized as Connor or Conner, is sometimes changed to Conyers in the United States.

The original Gaelic form of the name Conner is O'Connor, which means "descendant of Conchobhar". The surname O'Conchobhair has multiple spelling variations such as O’Conor, Conchobhar, Conor, Connors, and O’Connor, often anglicized as Conner. The surname can be categorized under patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father’s given name. Conner and its variants are common in Ireland and Scotland, reflecting the Gaelic origins of the name.

Famous people with the name Conner

• Sarah Connor: Known from the popular Terminator franchise, Sarah Connor is a fictional character played by Linda Hamilton. She is important to mention due to the cultural impact of the character.
• Roseanne Conner: Main character of the hit television show "Roseanne" & later, "The Conners", played by Roseanne Barr.
• Lauren "LC" Conner: A character from the HBO show "Big Love", played by Jolean Wejbe.
• John Conner: Another character from the Terminator franchise, portrayed by various actors including Edward Furlong and Christian Bale.
• Midge Conner: A love interest of Moose Mason in the "Archie Comics" series.
• Chris Conner: An American television and stage actor known for his role in the Sci-Fi series, ‘Altered Carbon.'
• Sarah Jones Conner: Reporter turned main character in the show, "Sarah Conner Chronicles", portrayed by Lena Headey.
• Bay Conner: A character from the book series, "Wings of Fire" by Tui T. Sutherland.
• Norm Conner: A retired professional baseball player who played from 1987 until 1992 for the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners.
• Bebe Conner: A character from soap opera "One Life to Live."
• Quentin Conner: Veteran Hollywood actor known for popular movies in the 1960s and 70s.
• Lee Conner: English footballer who played for Luton Town. Note: Some characters from various forms of media have been included due to their cultural significance.

Other surnames

ConneallyConneellyConnelConnelanConnellConnellanConnellaneConnelleyConnellyConnelyConnersConnery