Surname Conlan - Meaning and Origin

Conlan: What does the surname Conlan mean?

The last name Conlan is derived from an old Irish Gaelic name, "O' Conallain". This name is believed to have been derived from the word "conall", which means "strong wolf" or "valor" in Gaelic.

The Conlan family originated in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Historical documents indicate that members of the Conlan family were prominent in ecclesiastical, political, cultural, and armed conflict roles during the 12th and 16th centuries in Ireland. In addition, records indicate that the Conlan family held a prominent role in the Battle of Kinsale, fought in 1601.

Today, the Conlan surname is still very popular in Ireland, particularly among families of Irish ancestry living in North America. Those bearing the Conlan name are believed to be descendants of Royal Irish and Highland Scottish families, as well as families of Viking origin.

The name Conlan has come to mean courage and strength, both of which describe the family's ancient proud heritage. The descendants of the Conlan family are justifiably proud of their heritage and continue to honour the influence the Conlan family has had on its traditional Irish home.

Conlan: Where does the name Conlan come from?

The surname Conlan is commonly found in Ireland and Irish diasporas, but there are also people with the surname in various countries around the world. In Ireland, Conlan is a fairly common surname, especially in Connacht, the western coastal region. Due to Irish emigration, it is also to be found in the former British Empire countries of the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

In the United States, the surname Conlan is most commonly found in New York and Pennsylvania and is most often associated with Irish American families. Conlan is also found in several other US states where Irish American heritage is prominent, such as Massachusetts, Maryland, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

In Australia, Conlan is especially concentrated in the state of Victoria, which saw a large influx of Irish migrants during the 19th century. There are also a number of Conlans in New South Wales and Queensland, as well as Tasmania. Conlan is the 148th most common surname in Australia.

In Canada, Conlan is especially common in Ontario, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton, and London. It is also well-represented in Nova Scotia, particularly the Celtic-influenced towns of Halifax and Cape Breton, with a cluster of Conlans in the southeastern part of the province.

Finally, Conlan can be found in New Zealand, mostly in Auckland and the North Island.

Overall, Conlan is a worldwide surname that has origins in Ireland. While its strongholds are in the Irish diasporic countries, a number of Conlans can also be found in other countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Conlan

The surname Conlan has many different variants and spellings, all of which have the same origin. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

Konlan

Konland

Konlanne

Connland

Connellan

Conellan

Connlan

Connlanne

Konlen

Connlen

Conellen

Konlin

Conlin

Connlin

Konlyn

Coanlan

Coanlen

Colfan

Colvan

Kaanland

Kaanlen

Kolfan

Kolvan

Coenlan

Coenlen

Coenlyn

Koenlan

Koenlen

Koenlyn

Conlan's can also be known as Colvins, Caulins, and Quilans. These surnames are all derived from the Irish Gaelic O Conghalaigh, which means "descendant of Conghalach," a personal name meaning “valor” or "valiant."

The most common regional variations are Conlan and O Conlan in Ireland; Conlan, Conlin, and O Conline in Scotland; Konlan in Germany; Konlanne in Italy; Connlan in Norway and Sweden; and Conelleno in Spain.

Conlan is found all over the globe, from Europe to North and South America, Australia, and New Zealand. It is one of the most widely spread Irish surnames, and can be found among people of a variety of cultural backgrounds.

Famous people with the name Conlan

• John Conlan: Former Irish politician and professional sportsperson
• Tim Conlan: Former Australian politician and Parliamentary Secretary for Education
• Partick Conlan: Politician and former independent Member of the Canadian House of Commons
• Kelly Conlan: United States Air Force officer and former Congressional Fellow for the National Security Council
• Joanne Conlan: British actress
• Tracy Conlan: Canadian Paralympic athlete
• Larry Conlan: British actor
• Michael Conlan: Professional boxer from Northern Ireland
• Percy Conlan: American ice hockey referee
• Kevin Conlan: Politician, former independent Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Other surnames

Conlay