Surname Cunliffe - Meaning and Origin
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Cunliffe: What does the surname Cunliffe mean?
The last name Cunliffe is derived from a Celtic or Old English origin. Meaning a "hill by the water", the surname Cunliffe is made up of two Old English words cumb, meaning ‘valley', and leap, meaning 'hill'.
The first recorded spelling of the surname Cunliffe can be found in the Doomsday Book of 1085. It is also thought to be associated with the Irish surnames of Cuinliffe, which is derived from the ancient Gaelic name of O'Connlaigh. That name, in turn, is derived from the Irish word ‘conla’ which means ‘hero’.
The Cunliffe surname also appears in Scotland, and in Scotland, it can be spelled differently, with the common variations of Cuncliffe and Cunliff.
Today, the Cunliffe family lives all over the world, particularly in England, Scotland, Ireland, and the United States. It is thought to be one of the oldest surnames in England and is instantly recognisable. Cunliffe is considered to be a unique surname with multiple derivations and many branches.
Order DNA origin analysisCunliffe: Where does the name Cunliffe come from?
The surname Cunliffe is a common last name in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. It is particularly popular in Northern England, particularly around Lancashire and Yorkshire. The name is derived from two old-English words, "cunnen" or "can" and "leaf", indicating someone who lives in a remote place or on a steep slope.
The name Cunliffe can be found in records dating as far back as the 11th Century in Lancashire, England. It is believed that the family may have descended from Sir Frioch de Cunla, a young man who is believed to have joined William the Conqueror's forces as they invaded Britain in 1066. As such, the Cunliffe name carries with it a rich and proud history.
Today, the name Cunliffe is still prominent in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is most common in Northern England and in small cities and towns throughout Ireland. It is relatively common in Australia, too, due to the large influx of Irish settlers in the 19th Century and beyond.
In the United States, the surname Cunliffe is also relatively common, particularly in Texas and in other southern states. This is likely due to the large number of English and Irish immigrants who settled this area in the 1700s and 1800s.
Thus, the surname Cunliffe has an ancient and proud history and is relatively common today in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and many surrounding countries, as well as the southern United States.
Variations of the surname Cunliffe
The Cunliffe surname has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. They include Cunliff, Cunlif, Cunliffe, Conliff, Conliffe, Conlif, Conliffe, Cuncliff, Cuncliffes and Conclif. All of these surnames derive from the Old English pre 7th Century word 'cuhl', meaning 'hill-side'. This is a topographical name for someone who lived on a hill-side, possibly derived from any of the numerous places named with this word.
The derivation of the name can also be attributed to the Old English personal (first) name 'COLA', which was made up of the elements 'col', meaning 'black' plus 'helm' meaning 'helmet' or 'nameless'; hence, this name is believed to be derived from the description of a person wearing a black helmet.
The Cunliffe name has been borne by many notable people throughout history, including the English politician, Sir William Cunliffe Brooks who held the office of Governor of the Bank of England from 1885-1903, and cricketer, Geoffrey Cunliffe who played 102 matches for Worcestershire and 266 matches for Northamptonshire County Cricket Club between 1912 and 1937.
The name is also found in Scotland, where it is believed to be adopted from a similar but unrelated Scottish surname. One notable Scottish Cunliffe was the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Cunliffe, who held office from 1921 to 1924.
In Ireland, Cunliffe is sometimes used as an Anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Mac Conlae, which is derived from the personal (first) name Mac Conlao, which means ‘son of the hero’.
Famous people with the name Cunliffe
- Antony Cunliffe: British philosopher, writer and broadcaster.
- Barry Cunliffe: British archaeologist and academic.
- John Cunliffe: British writer, creator of the television series Postman Pat.
- Leon Cunliffe: British pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain in World War II.
- Patrick Cunliffe: British entrepreneur and philanthropist.
- Rob Cunliffe: British actor and comedian.
- William Cunliffe: British pianist, composer and arranger.
- Roger Cunliffe: Former Chairman of Bank of England and Royal Bank of Scotland.
- Owen Cunliffe: British lawyer and legal historian.
- Holiday Cunliffe: British actress, best known for her roles in The Bill and EastEnders.