Conner
Usually an Anglicized spelling of Connor, a surname with Irish roots, though it can also reflect other local or variant forms.
The #518 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 4,781 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Conner is most commonly treated as a spelling variant of Connor, which comes from Irish Ó Conchobhair, meaning descendant of Conchobhar. Conchobhar is an old personal name often explained as meaning “lover of hounds” or “hound-lover,” though the exact sense is debated. In some cases, Conner may also be an English respelling influenced by the surname Connor or by local pronunciation.
History
The surname is especially associated with Irish families, and English-language spellings have long varied between Connor, Conner, and related forms. In North American records, Conner and Connor are often interchanged, which makes the spelling less reliable as a clue to origin. The historical excerpts provided mainly support the existence of Conner as a variant form rather than a separate established etymology.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In historical surname lists, Conner is often cross-referenced to Connor, showing how fluid spelling could be before modern standardization.
From the historical record
“size and supervise the brewing of malt liquor. Another term for this ofBce was ale-conner. A poem of James I's reign says — " A none he had that ran ihow. What iKiDor be loved I Irow ; For be had beliirr long Kven years”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances