Cunningham Family Crest and Surname Origin
A short guide to the Cunningham surname: its meaning, its roots in Scotland & Ireland, and its heraldry.
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Origin of the Cunningham name
Cunningham is a Scottish habitational name from the district of Cunninghame in Ayrshire, whose lords became Earls of Glencairn. Scottish settlers brought it to Ulster in the seventeenth century. In Ireland it was also adopted as the English form of Gaelic names such as Ó Cuinneagáin and Mac Cuinneagáin, especially in Connacht. The name is now common across Ulster, Scotland and the United States.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Cunningham name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Cunningham name in Scotland & Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Canada; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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The researched Cunningham pack traces meaning, early bearers and migration routes, and includes a personalized Cunningham coat of arms.
Cunningham name FAQ
What does the Cunningham name mean?
From Cunninghame (Ayrshire). Common variants include Cunninghame, Conyngham, Cuningham.
Where does the Cunningham surname come from?
It originates in Scotland & Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Canada.
Is there a Cunningham coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Cunningham crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Cunningham coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).