O'Connor - Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Conchobhair
Meaning: “lover of hounds”
Traditional stronghold: Kerry, Roscommon, Derry
A line of High Kings of Ireland.
Pronunciation: oh-KON-er; Irish O Conchobhair: oh KRUH-hoor
History of the O'Connor name
Taken from the personal name Conchobhar, the O'Connors were the ruling dynasty of Connacht from the 10th century and produced Ireland's last two High Kings, Turlough and Ruaidri O'Connor, the latter reigning at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion. Their power base around Roscommon meant O'Connor remained overwhelmingly a Connacht name, though distinct, unrelated O'Connor septs also existed in Kerry (O'Connor Kerry) and Offaly (O'Connor Faly). The name's royal associations made it one of the proudest in Gaelic Ireland, and it remains among the ten most common surnames in the country today.
Variants: O'Conor · Connor · Conner
Famous bearers of the name
- Sinead O'Connor - Dublin-born singer-songwriter known for Nothing Compares 2 U
- Frank O'Connor - Pen name of Michael O'Donovan, celebrated Cork short-story writer
- Des O'Connor - English-born entertainer and chat show host of Irish parentage
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Kelly · O'Sullivan · McCarthy · Murray · O'Connell · Brennan · Fitzgerald · Flynn