Surname Cunley - Meaning and Origin
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Cunley: What does the surname Cunley mean?
The last name Cunley is of Irish origin. The surname is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic Ó Coinneal which derives from the first name Coinneal, meaning ‘valor’ or ‘ruler’. The Cunley surname is derived from the Gaelic regions of Ireland, most prominently around the provinces of Ulster and Connacht.
The Cunley family were a noble family in pre-medieval Ireland and have held prominent positions within the clergy and aristocracy between the 15th and 19th centuries. The famous Cunley Castle in Connacht stands out as a lasting example of prominence and power of one branch of the Cunley family.
In modern times, the Cunley surname is found throughout the world, particularly in the United States due to the impact of Irish Immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Cunley family displayed qualities of ambition and foresight by leaving Ireland during a time when the country was impoverished by famine and oppression.
The Cunley surname is a reminder of Ireland’s proud history and continuing struggle for self-determination. It is, however, a reminder of the sacrifices of the many brave people who left their homeland in search of a better life in a new land.
Order DNA origin analysisCunley: Where does the name Cunley come from?
The last name Cunley is most likely of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is found primarily in Britain and the United States. In Britain, the name is particularly well-documented in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, suggesting a northern England origin. In both countries, its distribution is concentrated in moderately populated areas of the Midlands and the North.
In the United States, the surname Cunley is most common in the states of Pennsylvania and Ohio. A notable concentration is found in northern York County, Pennsylvania, extending into southern Adams County, Pennsylvania. In Ohio, Cunley is relatively common around the Cleveland-Akron metropolitan center.
Cunley may also be found with some frequency in Canada, primarily in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta. It is also recorded in a number of other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Thus, the surname Cunley can be found in a number of regions today.
Variations of the surname Cunley
The surname Cunley is of Irish origin. There are a few different variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin for Cunley, including Conley, Counley, O Conghaile, O Cunnolla, O Conghaile, and Conliffe.
The most common spelling of Cunley is Conley which is an anglicised version of the Irish surname O Conghaile. This originated from the Gaelic “O” which means “son of”, combined with “Connla”, an Irish male name meaning “constant” or “fierce”. The Conley line first appeared in counties Offaly and Leitrim, as well as in Wicklow and Wexford.
Counley is a variation of the Conley surname, and is the most popular spelling in Ireland today. It is an anglicised form of the Irish surname O Cunnolla. This surname was created from the two Irish words “O” and “Cunn”, which translates to “son of Cunn”, a byname indicating someone from the Conn clan.
The O Conghaile and O Cunnolla family lines were strongly associated with counties Clare and Cork. O Conghaile was derived from the Irish “O”, combined with the personal name “Connla”, and the mapping of the Connla surname shows it was generally found in areas around Clare and Cork.
The alternate spelling of Conliffe is of English and Scottish origin. It originated from an old English surname Conliff, derived from a place-name which means “a shallow ravine”, referring to a person who lived near such a ravine. This surname is most commonly found in England, especially in counties Surrey, Lancashire, and Oxfordshire.
Overall, the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Cunley are Conley, Counley, O Conghaile, O Cunnolla, Conliffe, and occasionally O Conghaile.
Famous people with the name Cunley
- J.A. Cunley: American clergyman, educator, and civil rights activist
- Mike Cunley: American former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Peter Cunley: British former professional footballer
- Tom Cunley: American Association professional baseball player
- William M. Cunley: American politician
- Susan Cunley: American professional golfer
- Lewie Cunley: American National Football League player
- Robert John Cunley: American politician
- Thomas J. Cunley: American lawyer and politician
- Richard J. Cunley: American politician
- Sean Cunley: Canadian-born American former[ professional Canadian-football player
- Alison Cunley: British racewalker
- Trish Cunley: British long-distance runner
- Ray Cunley: Former American National Football League player
- Malcolm Monroe Cunley: American lawyer and politician
- Hubert Cunley: American professional football player
- John Cunley: American National Football League player
- Lt. Col. Read Cunley, Jr.: former Korean War prisoner of war