Oconnor
What is the origin of the last name Oconnor?
Meaning and origin
The last name O'Connor originates from Ireland and is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Conchobhair, meaning "descendant of Conchobhar." Conchobhar is a personal name derived from Irish mythology, popularized by Conchobar mac Nessa, the legendary king of Ulster in the ancient Irish epic, the Táin Bó Cúailnge. The prefix "Ó" indicates "descendant of," signifying that the bearer of the surname was a member of the O'Connor clan.
The longer story
The last name O'Connor is a surname of Irish origin. It belongs to the patronymic category of surnames, which are derived from the name of a male ancestor or an influential person in the family lineage. In the case of the O'Connor surname, it specifically indicates "descendant of Conchobhar," a Gaelic personal name meaning "lover of hounds."
The O'Connor clan held significant power and was known for their military prowess.
The prefix "O" in O'Connor signifies "descendant of" and is a distinctive feature of many Irish surnames. It denotes a direct family connection and indicates the lineage of a particular individual. The O'Connor surname signifies that the bearer is a direct descendant of a person named Conchobhar.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#417
Oconnor was the 417th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 77,923 people, about 26 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Oconnor
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Oconnor is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.