Surname Cunlieff - Meaning and Origin
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Cunlieff: What does the surname Cunlieff mean?
The last name Cunlieff is of Scottish origin with a long history and proud heritage. It is derived from the Gaelic words " tunn" meaning 'village' and "leobh" meaning 'love'. The combination of these two words gives us the meaning 'lover of the village'.
This is an old and rare surname with recorded examples dating back to the 13th century. The earliest reference dates back to 1240 in Edinburgh, with records of one John Cunliffe. The name is found most commonly in Scotland but can also be found in Northern England and Ireland.
The Cunlieff family is believed to have originated in Ayrshire, Scotland, prior to moving to Edinburgh around the 16th century. It was during this time that the family distinguished itself as being among the earliest Scottish employees of the East India Company, a major trading firm in the British Raj.
The Cunlieff family has a long and proud history of professional and entrepreneurial achievement. Members have held professional roles from doctors and lawyers to astronauts and military personnel. The family has also grown to include members in a variety of industries including music, art, and teaching.
The Cunlieff name carries with it a legacy of hard work, dedication and ambition that lives on to this day. To have the Cunlieff surname is a sign of distinction and respect that will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisCunlieff: Where does the name Cunlieff come from?
The last name Cunlieff is believed to be of Irish descent and most common today in the Irish diaspora. It can be found in various places across the world such as the United States, England, Canada, and Australia.
United States
The last name Cunlieff has a presence in some of the states across the US. In states such as Florida, Maryland, New York, andPennsylvania, Cunlieff can be found. North Carolina, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Nevada are also locations with Cunlieff roots. These regions across the US have Irish influences, which is likely why the surname can be found in these states.
England
The Cunlieff surname is present in various places in England. It is found primarily in the southern parts of the country, especially near the coast. Devon, Kent, Hampshire, Suffolk, Cheshire, Dorset, North West, and London all have Cunlieff families.
Canada
In Canada, Cunlieff can be found mainly in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia. These provinces have an enduring presence of Irish immigrants, so it is not surprising the surname can be found in various parts of the country.
Australia
The Cunlieff surname is prominent across the Australian continent. Most of the Cunlieff families are located in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. It is also present in the Northern Territory and South Australia.
Overall, the last name Cunlieff is mostly found in locations with an Irish diaspora, such as the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. It is likely more prevalent in other countries with Irish ancestries, such as Argentina and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Cunlieff
The surname Cunlieff, also known as Cunniffe, Cunningfe and Cunliffe, is of ancient Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Conluibhe, which means ‘son of Conluibhe’, a personal name composed of two Old Irish elements: ‘con’, meaning ‘hound’, and ‘luibhe’, meaning ‘wolf.’
The surname Cunlieff has a number of variants, including Cunneleff, Conleffe, Conoliffe, Connely and Cundy. In Scotland, the spellings Cullief, Cunliffe and Collyff are common.
Variations in spelling of the Cunlieff surname over the years have resulted in many different spellings or variations, such as Cunnally and Cunliff.
Surnames related to Cunlieff include Cunnion, Conly, Conlon, Conlon-Cantwell, Duffy, O’Cunnally, Connelly, Conine, Coniff and Coniffey. The Conly surname is most commonly encountered and has been found in the Co. Antrim area since the 1600s.
In Europe, the nickname for the Cunlieff surname is ‘Culleff’ derived from the Gaelic word ‘Cul’ meaning ‘hunchback.’ Other variations of the Cunlieff surname include Conliffe, Cunnell, Cunnely, Cunniff and Cunnif.
The Cunniff surname, originally taken from the Irish surname O’Conluibhe, is also related to the Cunlieff name. Variations of the Cunniff surname include Cunniffe, Cunnely, Cunliffe, Connelly and Cunnelam.
In conclusion, the Cunlieff surname has numerous variants and corresponding surnames of Irish and Scottish origin. Differences in spelling over the years have resulted in a wide variety of related surnames.
Famous people with the name Cunlieff
- Derek Cunlieff: an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s.
- Jorja Cunlieff: an American children's book author and illustrator.
- Niels Cunlieff: a Finnish entrepreneur and former professional basketball player.
- Peter Cunlieff: an English professional footballer who played in the 1990s.
- Chaim Cunlieff: an Australian rabbi and radio presenter.
- Gloria Cunlieff: an American computer scientist and software engineer.
- Letha Cunlieff: a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Cardigan in Wales from 1983 to 1987.
- Jennie Cunlieff: an American television producer and writer.
- Jalia Cunlieff: a British writer and theatre director.
- Jules Cunlieff: a German-Jewish pianist and composer.