Oconnor Family History

Irish (especially Munster): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Conchobhair ‘descendant of Conchobhar’ a personal name which is said to have originated as Cú Chobhair from cú ‘hound’ (genitive con) + cobhar ‘desiring’ i.e. ‘hound of desire’.

Present-day bearers of the surname claim descent from a 10th-century king of Connacht of this name.

In Irish legend, Conchobhar was a king of Ulster who lived at around the time of Christ and who adopted the youthful Cú Chulainn.