Find out how popular the last name O'Connor is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named O'Connor.

O'Connor, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the O'Connor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of O'Connor in America

O'Connor is the 417th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The O'Connor surname appeared 77,923 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 26 people would have the surname O'Connor.

We can also compare 2010 data for O'Connor to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name O'Connor

The surname OCONNOR is an ancient Irish surname with roots dating back to the 5th century AD. It originated in Ireland, specifically in the province of Connacht, where it was an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Ó Conchobhair, meaning "descendant of Conchobhar."

The name Conchobhar itself is derived from the Old Irish words "con" meaning hound and "chabhar" meaning desire or valour. It was a popular personal name among the Irish nobility, particularly in the powerful Uí Briúin dynasty that ruled Connacht for centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name OCONNOR can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. It mentions several prominent figures bearing the name, including Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair, who was King of Connacht from 1106 to 1156.

During the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century, the OCONNOR family played a significant role in resisting the Norman advance. They were among the last Gaelic royal families to maintain power in Ireland, with their kingdom centered around the ancient capital of Cruachan in modern-day County Roscommon.

One of the most famous historical figures with the surname OCONNOR was Rory O'Connor (1116-1198), the last High King of Ireland. He led the Irish resistance against the Anglo-Norman invaders and was eventually forced to abdicate in 1186, marking the end of the traditional Irish monarchy.

Other notable individuals with the surname OCONNOR include:

1. Arthur O'Connor (1763-1852), a Irish revolutionary and leader of the United Irishmen.
2. Frank O'Connor (1903-1966), an Irish author and memoirist, best known for his short story collection "Guests of the Nation."
3. Sandra Day O'Connor (born 1930), the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court, serving from 1981 to 2006.
4. Sinéad O'Connor (born 1966), an Irish singer-songwriter known for her distinctive voice and controversial public persona.
5. Donald O'Connor (1925-2003), an American singer, dancer, and actor who starred in numerous musicals and comedies, including "Singin' in the Rain."

Throughout its long history, the surname OCONNOR has maintained a strong connection to its Irish roots, even as its bearers have spread across the world. It remains a proud symbol of the ancient Gaelic heritage and the enduring spirit of the Irish people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name O'Connor

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname O'Connor.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for O'Connor was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of O'Connor has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name O'Connor was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of O'Connor, please contact us.

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