Surname Cunyngham - Meaning and Origin

Cunyngham: What does the surname Cunyngham mean?

The origin of the surname Cunyngham is connected to the region of Cumbria, which is in the northwestern part of England. The name is derived from the Old English phrase “Cumbra land”, which literally means “the land of the Cumbri people”. The Cumbri were one of several Celtic tribes who lived in the area during the Iron Age.

The name Cunyngham likely originated in the 13th or 14th centuries, when personal names became more commonly used. During this time, people often adopted the name of the region they lived in. The first known occurrence of the surname is in a record from 1297.

The name Cunyngham may have been initially used to refer to an inhabitant of either Cumbria in England or Cunyngham in County Mayo, Ireland. The origin of the name in Ireland is much more obscure and may be connected to the Gaelic phrase meaning “hill of the people”.

The meaning of the surname Cunyngham is “from the land of the Cumbri” or “from the hill of the people”. It is still a relatively uncommon surname today, although there are several variations, including Cunningham, Cuninghame and Cummin.

Cunyngham: Where does the name Cunyngham come from?

The surname Cunyngham is most predominantly found in England, Australia, and New Zealand. It is a fairly uncommon name, so there is no one concentrated area of geographic prevalence for it. According to a search of the U.K. census of 2011, Cunyngham is most commonly found in Nottinghamshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire.

In Australia, Cunyngham is less common, with only 250 listings in the Australia Electoral Rolls. It can be found in all states and territories but is concentrated mainly in Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales.

In New Zealand, Cunyngham is most commonly found in the North Island, especially in Waikato, Wellington, and Canterbury.

In the United States and Canada, Cunyngham is far less common. There are only around 75 listings for the name in the United States, with most of them in New York, Florida, and California. In Canada, there are roughly 100 listings for Cunyngham, predominantly in Ontario and British Columbia.

Given the sparse distribution of the Cunyngham name around the world, it is likely to be a name with a fairly small number of families descended from the same ancestor. As such, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where the name is most concentrated today.

Variations of the surname Cunyngham

The origin of the surname Cunyngham is likely derived from an old Celtic personal name composed of elements meaning ‘chief’ and ‘encouragement’ or ‘mimicry’. Over the centuries, the surname Cunyngham has evolved into many variants, spellings, and surnames derived from it.

Variants that are commonly seen include Conyngham, Conynghame, Cuningham, Cunningam, Cunyngham, Cunynghame, and Cunnygham. Spellings of the same origin include Cunainghaem, Cunyngam, Cunynghame, Kaeninngham, and Kaenyngham. Other surnames that are derived from the same origin are Contingham, Cuningham, Conningham, Cunnyngham, Cunninggham, and Cunnigham.

In Scotland, variations of the name include Cunnighame, Kynningham, and Kyningham, while in Ireland it exists as Conyngham, Cuningam, Conningam, and Cuningham. In the United States, the surname is usually seen as Cunnigham, Conaghan, and Cunegan.

There is also an Anglicisation of the name which is seen as Cunningham. This form of the surname is found mainly in Scotland and is derived from the original Scottish Gaelic form of the name. In the early 19th century, many families with variant spellings of the surname began to adopt the Anglicized version of Cunningham.

Famous people with the name Cunyngham

• Colin Cunyngham: British actor, best known for his roles in The Man Upstairs (2016), BBC Two (2015), and Disney's The Lion King (1994).
• Daryl Cunyngham: Canadian actor, known for his roles in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), The Changeling (2009), and Resident Evil 5 (2007).
• Harry Cunyngham: English actor, known for his roles in Peaky Blinders (2013-2019), The Bill (1986-1995), and Plummer's Academy (2008-2012).
• Carole Cunyngham: Welsh actor, best known for her roles in Pride and Prejudice (2005), Brigid (2004), and The House of Eliott (1991-1994).
• Julian Cunyngham: English actor, best known for his roles in Hinterland (2014-2016), Doctors (2007-2009), and Women in Love (1970).
• Judy Cunyngham: American actress, known for her roles in Witches in Flight (2014), Alice in Kitchenland (2010), and I'm in Peril (2008).
• Robert Cunyngham: American director, best known for his documentaries Thin Ice (2014), The Naughty (2011), and Suckerfish (2007).
• Riqi Cunyngham: Scottish actor, known for roles in Estranged (2015), Shoestring (2012-2013), and EastEnders (1985-1986).
• Tony Cunyngham: Irish-born actor, best known for his roles in The Tudors (2007-2010), Hollyoaks (1999-2003), and Match Point (2005).

Other surnames

Cunyngh