Surname Cunlief - Meaning and Origin
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Cunlief: What does the surname Cunlief mean?
The last name Cunlief is of Scottish origin and was first found in the county of Northumberland in northern England. According to the origins of the name, the family was believed to have descended from Kenneth III, King of Dalriada who established the kingdom of Alba, which is now known as Scotland. The name Cunlief translates to "From the top of the mountain". It is believed to be a derivative of the Gaelic word "cnoc" which translates to "hill" or "mountain" and "leathi" which translates to "place".
The Cunlief family were primarily renowned for their prowess as warriors and were prominent members of the clan system in the highlands of Scotland. Noted members of the Cunlief family include James Cormack Cunliffe, a direct descendant of Kenneth III, who played a part in the 1745 Jacobite rebellion and fought under the command of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
The Cunlief surname has a deep meaning and heritage. It can be seen as a metaphor for strength and resilience as members of this clan have persevered through many trials and tribulations in order to continue their proud, centuries old heritage. The name Cunlief is a mark of strength, resilience, and tenacity that has been passed down through the family's proud history.
Order DNA origin analysisCunlief: Where does the name Cunlief come from?
The last name Cunlief is most commonly found in the United States today, primarily in the Midwest and the middle Atlantic regions. According to the US Census Bureau, the states with the most Cunliefs in 2020 were Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Massachusetts. Other states in which Cunliefs can be found include Michigan, New York, Virginia, California, and Wisconsin.
The origins of the Cunlief surname are uncertain, and there are several theories as to the possible origins. One theory is that the Cunlief surname has English origins, as an alteration to the surname Cunningham. There is also a theory that Cunlief may be a derivative of an old French name, Cunelif, which is borne from the old French word cunelivre meaning "diligent worker". It is also possible the surname may have Irish origins, and may be derived from the Gaelic names Cunnelly or Cunniffe.
No matter its origins, Cunlief is a rare surname today, with the US Census Bureau listing only 233 individuals in 2020 with this surname. It is much more common in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois, however, with several related families located in the Midwest United States and eastern states of Massachusetts, Virginia, and New York.
Variations of the surname Cunlief
The surname Cunlief is thought to have originated in Lothian, Scotland where it was spelled as Cunliffe. It is believed to be an Anglicized form of the earlier Gaelic surname MacConléibhe or Mac Conléibhe, which was derived from the components “Mac” (son of) and “Conléibhe” (an Old Irish personal name).
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Cunlief include Cunliffe, Conley, Conly, Conlee, Conlye, Conlay, Cunley, Cunly, Conleigh, Connley, Connly, MacConliffe, MacConlee, MacConlay, MacConnley, MacConnly, MacConly, and MacConlye.
The most common spelling of Cunlief in Scotland is Cunliffe and Cunlief is the most frequently used form in England. The variant spellings of Cunlief are believed to have arisen due to errors in, or phonetic adaptations of, the original spelling of the name.
Cunlief is often found as a surname in Ireland and the variant spellings have been found in records from Ulster (Northern Ireland), Dublin, and County Cork in the south. In the United States, the name has been recorded in many states including New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. In Canada, the name is recorded in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
One of the oldest records of the name was of a John de Cunliffe in 1379 in the Write of Parliamentary Writs. He was found to have held lands of the local lords of Wetherlitt in Cumberland (now Cumbria). The name continued to be found in various parts of Scotland although it is most commonly linked with Lothian.
Given the variations in spelling and how widely it has spread, it is clear the surname Cunlief has had many different spellings and variants throughout the centuries, which are all linked to the original form of the name.
Famous people with the name Cunlief
- Lachlan Cunliffe, New Zealand sports commentator
- Davey Cunliffe, English actor
- Katherine Cunliffe, American singer
- Michael Cunliffe, British historian
- Edward Cunliffe, English cricketer
- George Cunliffe, Irish actor
- William Cunliffe, English inventor
- Corin Cunliffe, British civil servant
- Chris Cunliffe, English bishop
- Les Cunliffe, Australian rugby player