Contents [hide]

Conners History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Conners History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
England

Today's Irish surnames are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Conners originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Conchobhair, derived from the personal name Conchobhar. 1

Early Origins of the Conners family

The surname Conners was first found in Connacht. There were six different septs of this famous name scattered throughout Ireland, of which four continue to boast many members. However, the most important O'Connors were those of Connacht, divided into three main branches: O'Conor Don; O'Conor Roe; and O'Conor Sligo.

The Connacht O'Connors were direct descendants of Conchobhar, King of Connacht, who died in 971 AD. Furthermore, this family produced the last two High Kings of Ireland: Turlough O'Connor (1088-1156) and Roderick O'Connor (1116-1196). It was the invasion of Leinster by Roderick O'Conner on behalf of the Prince of West Brefney that caused the King of Leinster, Dermod MacMorough, to flee to England for aid. This resulted in the Strongbow Invasion of 1168, the beginning of English domination over Ireland.

Despite remaining stubbornly Catholic, the O'Connor family continued to maintain their elite position among the Irish nobility throughout the entire period of British dominance.

Early History of the Conners family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Conners research. Another 182 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1002, 1641, 1652, 1666, 1698, 1710, 1763, 1791, 1838, 1852 and 1906 are included under the topic Early Conners History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Conners Spelling Variations

Just like the English language, the Gaelic language of Ireland was not standardized in the Middle Ages. Therefore, one's name was often recorded under several different spellings during the life of its bearer. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origins of the Conners family name include Connor, Conner, Conor, Connors, O'Connor, Connores, Conner, Connar, Connars, O'Connar, O'Conner, Connair, Connairs, Connaire, Connaires, Cawner, Cawners, Caunnor, Cauner, Cauners and many more.

Early Notables of the Conners family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Cabrach O'Conor and Hugh O'Connor, son and grandson of O'Conor Don, took a prominent part in the 1641-1652 warsBernard Connor or O'Connor (1666?-1698), Irish physician and historian, descended from an ancient Irish family...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Conners Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Conners Ranking

In the United States, the name Conners is the 4,400^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2

Conners migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Conners to North America:

Conners Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Gillian Conners, who landed in Virginia in 1656 3

Conners Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

T Conners, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 3
Andy Conners, who arrived in Mississippi in 1854 3
Jerry Conners, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 3
Maurice Conners, who arrived in St Clair County, III in 1875 3
Samuel Conners, who arrived in Ohio in 1883 3

Conners Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

James Wood Conners, who arrived in Alabama in 1929 3

Conners migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Conners Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Catherine Conners, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1838
Patrick Conners, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1838
Mr. Christopher Conners, aged 50 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Blenheim" departing 16th June 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 29th July 1847 but he died on board 4
Mr. John Conners, aged 60 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Albion" departing 19th April 1847 from Limerick, Ireland; the ship arrived on 18th June 1847 but he died on board 4
Mrs. Mary Conners, aged 32 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "John Bell" departing 10th May 1847 from New Ross, Ireland; the ship arrived on 29th June 1847 but she died on board 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Conners migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Conners Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Patrick Conners, (b. 1817), aged 27, Irish labourer who was convicted in Limerick, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Cadet" on 9th April 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
Hessy Conners, aged 20, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Epaminondas" 6
Michael Conners, aged 24, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Sir Edward Parry" 7
Michael Conners, aged 35, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Sir Edward Parry" 7
Maria Conners, aged 17, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Flora" 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Conners (post 1700) +

Carmen Keith Conners (1933-2017), American psychologist, best known for his ground breaking research into the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Bernard F. Conners, American author and producer, founder of the annual Bernard F. Conners Prize for Poetry Award
Gene Conners (1930-2010), American trombonist and singer, known as "The Mighty Flea"
Dan Conners (b. 1941), former American college and professional football player from St. Marys, Pennsylvania
Jack Conners (b. 1943), American Democratic Party politician in the New Jersey General Assembly
William J. Conners, American Democratic Party politician, New York Democratic State Chair, 1906-10; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1916, 1924 9
Richard J. Conners, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly 104th District, 1977-92 9
Michael F. II Conners, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 46th District, 2004 9
Maynard Gilbert Conners (1918-2001), American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Maine 2nd District, 1970; Member of Maine State House of Representatives 9
John F. Conners, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Oakland, California, 1924-28 9
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Conners family +

Pemberton Mill

Miss Ellen Conners, factory worker in the Pemberton Mill on 10th January 1860 when the mill collapsed trapping 900 workers as rescue attempts continued into the night, an oil lantern was knocked over further engulfing the trapped workers in fire, she died
Miss Kate Conners, (Catherine), factory worker in the Pemberton Mill on 10th January 1860 when the mill collapsed trapping 900 workers as rescue attempts continued into the night, an oil lantern was knocked over further engulfing the trapped workers in fire, she died

The Conners Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: O Dhia gach an cabhair
Motto Translation: From God Every Help

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 70)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cadet/
South Australian Register Monday 26th December 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Epaminondas 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/epaminondas1853.shtml
South Australian Register Monday 27th March 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Sir Edward Parry 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/siredwardparry1854.shtml
South Australian Register Monday 9th April 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Flora 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/flora1855.shtml
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html