O'Conner
An Irish surname usually treated as a variant spelling of O'Connor, meaning a descendant of Connor.
The #9,048 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 85,501 Americans shares it.
Etymology
O'Conner is generally understood as an Anglicized spelling variant of the Irish surname O'Connor. The prefix O' comes from Gaelic Ó, meaning 'descendant of,' and Connor comes from the Irish personal name Conchobhar, often interpreted as 'lover of hounds' or sometimes 'wolf lover.' In practice, the surname points to descent from a man called Connor/Conchobhar rather than a literal occupation or nickname.
History
The O'Connor family name is one of the best-known Irish surnames and was borne by several distinct dynastic lines, especially in Connacht and Kerry. O'Conner appears as a later or simplified spelling in English-language records, where surnames were often written phonetically or inconsistently. Because spelling was not standardized, many families used Connor, O'Connor, Oconner, and similar forms interchangeably.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The core Irish given name behind this surname, Conchobhar, is one of the older and more historically important names in Gaelic Ireland.