Surname Cunrady - Meaning and Origin

Cunrady: What does the surname Cunrady mean?

The last name Cunrady is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic surname "Ó Cuana Rhide". The literal translation of this phrase is "descendant of the hound rider" which is likely an indication of the family's distant ancestor having been a hunter or a skilled horseman.

The root of this surname is "cuana", a common Irish name meaning "hound" or "dog". "Rhide" is derived from the Old Welsh word "rid" meaning "rider". This combination of two separate words into a single surname is common in Irish culture, as the Irish often combined animals or personal characteristics of individuals into names.

There are numerous variations in spelling of the surname Cunrady, including "Kunrady", "O Conrady" and "O'Conrady", "Conrod", and "Conroy". These variations are believed to be reflective of the differences in pronunciation and Anglicisations of the original name.

Today, this name is primarily found in counties Cork, Tipperary, and Limerick in Ireland, and has spread to the United States, Canada, Australia, and other English-speaking areas of the world. In recent years, it has become a symbol of Irish pride and identity for its bearing resemblance to the phrase ‘Ó Cuana Rhide’.

Cunrady: Where does the name Cunrady come from?

The last name Cunrady is most commonly found in the United States today. Those with this name are mainly of Irish descent, and can trace their origins to County Cork in Ireland. In 1890, the U.S. Census Bureau found that Cunrady was the 1,604th most common last name in the country, with approximately 8,367 individuals having it.

Today, the majority of Cunradys live in the United States, with some presence in other English-speaking nations, like the United Kingdom and Australia. Currently, the family name is the 7,602nd most common surname in the United States, according to the 2020 census data.

Elsewhere, the last name Cunrady is relatively rare and difficult to find. Because the majority of those from County Cork immigrated to the United States in the 19th century, subsequent generations of Irish émigrés often chose different last names. As such, Cunrady is an uncommon name in its original homeland, Ireland.

However, there may still be pockets of Cunradys in County Cork. If one is interested in exploring their Irish heritage, online searches and conversations may provide some leads. Genealogical records, such as church and civil vital records, can also be helpful in tracking down any remaining Cunradys, both in Ireland and abroad.

Variations of the surname Cunrady

The surname Cunrady is believed to be of Irish origin, particularly from the counties of Galway and Tipperary. Common variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include:

- Cunnrady

- Cunrada

- Cunnredy

- Cunrardy

- Cunreaddy

- Cunnreddy

- Cunnreddy

- Conrady

- Conrada

- Conradi

- Conratha

- Conredy

- Conreddy

- O'Cunrada

- O'Cunnrady

- O'Connrady

- O'Conrada

- O'Conradi

- O'Conratha

- O'Conreddy

- Conradsen

- Conradson

These surnames are believed to derive from the Latin personal name 'Conradus', which was introduced to England in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Germanic elements 'kon' meaning 'bold' or 'wise' and 'rad' meaning 'counsel'. The Irish form of these surnames is very similar to the original Latin form, and can be spelt with one, two or three 'n' or 'r' syllables. It can even be spelt without the 'O' prefix.

Nevertheless, all of these variants and spellings of the name Cunrady remain to be of the same origin, simply being variations of the same name over the years.

Famous people with the name Cunrady

• Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce: Jamaican sprinter and 11-time Olympic gold medalist
• Colin Cundrand: Former head of the British Fencing Association
• George Cunrady: 19th century English writer
• Adam Cunrady: Swiss professional soccer player
• John Cunrady: English stockbroker and philanthropist
• Mark Cunrady: Irish snooker player
• John Cunrady Jr.: American entrepreneur
• Jamie Cunrady: Canadian football player
• Daniel Cunrady: British singer-songwriter
• David Cunrady: British poet

Other surnames

CunradiCunraedsCunrath