Conran
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O'Comhráin" meaning "descendant of the wolf lover".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 651 Americans carry the last name Conran. That puts it at #40,016 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.19 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 526,504 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Conran surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
651
1 in 526,504
Census rank
#40,016
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
548
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 548 bearers of the surname Conran in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 40016th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Conran, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.2%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Conran
The surname Conran is of Irish origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Conran" or "Conran", which means "little hound" or "wolf cub". The name was initially found in County Galway and the surrounding regions of western Ireland.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Conran can be traced back to the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history dating back to the 12th century. The annals mention an individual named "Conran Ua Duibh" who was involved in a conflict in the year 1166.
The Conran surname also appears in the Pipe Rolls of Cloyne, a collection of financial records from the late 12th century related to the Diocese of Cloyne in County Cork. These rolls list several individuals with the surname, suggesting its widespread use in the region.
In the 16th century, the Conran family was well-established in County Galway, particularly in the area around Gort. Notable figures from this time include Fergal Conran (c. 1520 - 1585), a prominent landowner and chieftain, and Rory Conran (c. 1550 - 1612), who fought alongside the Irish forces during the Nine Years' War against English rule.
During the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in the 17th century, many Conran families were dispossessed of their lands and forced to relocate to other parts of the country. This led to the spread of the surname beyond its traditional stronghold in western Ireland.
In the 18th century, a prominent figure was Dermot Conran (1725 - 1798), a successful merchant and landowner from County Galway. He was known for his involvement in local politics and his support for Irish independence movements.
The 19th century saw the emigration of many Conrans from Ireland to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. One notable individual from this period was Michael Conran (1840 - 1912), an Irish-American soldier who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and later became a successful businessman in New York.
Other notable individuals with the surname Conran include Terence Conran (1931 - 2020), a renowned British designer and restaurateur who was instrumental in the revival of the British design industry in the 20th century, and Jasper Conran (born 1959), a fashion designer and the son of Terence Conran, who has achieved significant success in the fashion world.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Conran
Among Census respondents with the surname Conran, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.2%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Conran bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Conran surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.7%
- Two or more races2.2%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
- Unknown or suppressed1.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Conran surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #36,672 | #40,016 | -9.1% |
| Count | 575 | 548 | -4.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.21 | 0.19 | -9.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Conran bearers went from 575 to 548 (-4.7% change). The surname moved down 3,344 positions in the national ranking, going from #36,672 to #40,016.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Conran
FAQ
Conran surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Conran?
The surname Conran holds position #40,016 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 651 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Conran surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Conran, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.2%) and Hispanic (1.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.