Surname Cundclyffe - Meaning and Origin
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Cundclyffe: What does the surname Cundclyffe mean?
The last name Cundclyffe is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the Old English words 'cult' meaning garden or cultivated land, and 'clif' meaning a cliff or a hill. In some cases, the last name may have come from a place name.
The modern-day version of Cundclyffe is the surnames Cundiff, Cundyffe, and Cundall. The Cundyffe variation is found mostly in Scotland and northern England, while the Cundiff variation is mainly seen in the United States.
Historically, this surname was mainly used as a topographic name to describe people who came from or lived on the side of a cliff or a hill. It could also refer to someone who regularly worked in a garden or cultivated land, hence deriving the modern-day meaning of being an avid gardener.
The Cundclyffe surname has changed over time. In the 19th century, the name also appeared as Cundall, Cundill, and Condall. In the 1881 Census, the Cundill spelling was three times more common than the Cundiff spelling, with most of the name-holders living in Lancashire.
The name was quite popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries as a first name. By looking at records from the period, it was common for people to use the name as a middle name, usually paired with a name like James for boys, or Elizabeth for girls. Today, however, it is not as commonly used as a first name.
Overall, the last name Cundclyffe refers to someone who is associated with land, either from living on the side of a hill or from tending a garden. It has changed over time, and although it is not as popular as a first name nowadays, it remains an important part of English and Scottish culture.
Order DNA origin analysisCundclyffe: Where does the name Cundclyffe come from?
The last name Cundclyffe is most commonly found in England and Wales. It is a rare surname, with less than 1000 individuals bearing this name living in the UK today. The name was first recorded near the South West corner of England in the historic region of Devon. This suggests that the name is a relatively old one, with its earliest recorded usage dating back to the 14th century.
The name has spread across England and Wales, to areas such as Cornwall, Berkshire, Hampshire, and Yorkshire. The Cundclyffe spelling is very rare so it is likely that there may be other versions of the name in use today, such as Cundcliffe or Cundleiffe.
The Cundclyffe surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, likely deriving from an old Saxon given name. There are several possible origins for the name, including 'Cunda' meaning 'direct' or 'strong direction', as well as 'Cliffe' meaning 'cliff'. Both of these suggest that the original Cundclyffe family may have hailed from the famous South West cliffs of Devon and the surrounding region.
The Cundclyffe name is also recorded as being popular in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States, suggesting that the family name has spread further since its Saxon origins. There is no way to definitively trace the path of the name over the centuries, however it is likely that the name is now found in greater numbers across the globe.
Variations of the surname Cundclyffe
The surname Cundclyffe is believed to be of English and French origin. In England, variants of the name include Caldecott, Caldicot, Cauldicote, and Caldcliff. In France, variants include de Caldcleff, de Caldicote, and de Chaldicote. It is also spelled Candclyffe, Caundcliff, and Concliff.
The surname Cundclyffe is associated primarily with Oxfordshire, England. It is also found in Dorset, Somerset, Durham, Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Derbyshire, all of which share a common Norman ancestry. A variant of the name is also found in the Channel Islands.
The Cundclyffe surname was originally derived from Caldicote, a place-name. It is thought to be derived from an Old English phrase that means “cold cottages” - referring to dwellings that were built without the use of masonry or stone; rather, they were constructed of wattle and daub.
The Cundclyffe family was recorded in early documents such as the Poll Tax of Oxfordshire in 1377, and a few members of the family can be found in archives during the 16th century.
Alternate spellings of the surname include Caundclef, Candeclyffe, Candecleff, Caldeclyffe, Caldecleff, Caldecot, Caldcot, Caldicot, Caldicote, Caldecote, Cauldicote, Caldclyffe, Calcleff, Concliff, and Coundcleff. Alternate surnames derived from the same name are Caldecotts and Caldicotts.
Famous people with the name Cundclyffe
- Elizabeth Cundclyffe-Hogg: British novelist and publisher
- Sir Harold Cundclyffe: 20th century British diplomat
- Henry Cundclyffe Pery, 5th Earl of Limerick: British peer and publisher
- Alice Cundclyffe-Hogg: British jet-setter and philanthropist
- Harold Cundclyffe-Hugessen: British Army Major
- Brian Cundclyffe-Smith: Australian cricketer
- Samuel Cundclyffe-Hogg: British Army Major General
- Susannah Cundclyffe: British garden designer
- Thomas Cundclyffe: British author
- Henry Cundclyffe: 19th century English Lord Chancellor