NameCensus.

UK surname

Cundy

An English locational surname derived from a place now called Condy in Dorset.

In the 1881 census there were 781 people recorded with the Cundy surname, ranking it #4,748 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 827, ranked #6,723, down from #4,748 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham St Mary and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Derbyshire Dales and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cundy is 1,058 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.9%.

1881 census count

781

Ranked #4,748

Modern count

827

2016, ranked #6,723

Peak year

1911

1,058 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cundy had 781 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,748 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 827 in 2016, ranked #6,723.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,058 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cundy surname distribution map

The map shows where the Cundy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Cundy surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cundy over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 634 #4,094
1861 historical 506 #5,174
1881 historical 781 #4,748
1891 historical 748 #5,323
1901 historical 959 #4,897
1911 historical 1,058 #4,364
1997 modern 933 #5,802
1998 modern 969 #5,823
1999 modern 972 #5,833
2000 modern 963 #5,866
2001 modern 944 #5,853
2002 modern 950 #5,928
2003 modern 931 #5,929
2004 modern 914 #6,014
2005 modern 879 #6,129
2006 modern 854 #6,293
2007 modern 864 #6,297
2008 modern 869 #6,300
2009 modern 885 #6,347
2010 modern 904 #6,361
2011 modern 874 #6,472
2012 modern 856 #6,497
2013 modern 872 #6,506
2014 modern 861 #6,604
2015 modern 854 #6,574
2016 modern 827 #6,723

Geography

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Where Cundys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham St Mary, Sheffield, St Stephen in Brannel and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Derbyshire Dales and Fenland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 St Stephen in Brannel Cornwall
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 030 Cornwall
2 Derbyshire Dales 008 Derbyshire Dales
3 Cornwall 039 Cornwall
4 Derbyshire Dales 009 Derbyshire Dales
5 Fenland 004 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cundy

These lists show first names that appear often with the Cundy surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cundy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cundy, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Cundy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cundy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cundy is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cundy is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cundy falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cundy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cundy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cundy

The surname Cundy is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "cund" or "cunde," meaning "kind" or "nature." It is believed to have originated as a nickname or descriptive name, likely referring to someone with a gentle or kind disposition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327, where it appears as "William Cundi." The name is also mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Lincolnshire in 1554, with the spelling "Cundye."

The Cundy surname is closely associated with the county of Staffordshire, particularly the village of Kinver, where it is thought to have originated. Some early references to the name in this area include John Cundy, who was recorded in the Kinver Parish Registers in 1558, and Thomas Cundy, mentioned in the Worcestershire Hearth Tax Returns of 1672.

Notable figures throughout history who bore the Cundy surname include:

1. John Cundy (c. 1765-1835), an English landscape painter and engraver from Worcestershire. 2. Samuel Cundy (1823-1891), a British architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall. 3. Mary Cundy (1842-1913), a British teacher and philanthropist who founded the Cundy Industrial Home for Destitute Girls in London. 4. Robert Cundy (1905-1989), a British architect and town planner known for his work in the reconstruction of cities after World War II. 5. Michael Cundy (born 1951), a British composer and musician best known for his work in television and film scores.

While the Cundy surname has been associated with various place names, such as Cundy's Croft in Staffordshire, it is primarily a descriptive surname rather than a locative one. It has also been spelled in various ways throughout history, including Cundi, Cundye, and Kundy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cundy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cundy surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cornwall leads with 186 Cundys recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.57x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 186 21.57x
Devon 112 7.06x
Lancashire 63 0.70x
Yorkshire 57 0.76x
Lincolnshire 48 3.94x
Middlesex 44 0.58x
Essex 38 2.53x
Derbyshire 33 2.77x
Nottinghamshire 33 3.21x
Glamorgan 18 1.36x
Suffolk 18 1.94x
Warwickshire 17 0.88x
Staffordshire 16 0.62x
Surrey 15 0.40x
Gloucestershire 13 0.87x
Cheshire 10 0.59x
Kent 10 0.38x
Norfolk 10 0.85x
Leicestershire 9 1.07x
Pembrokeshire 9 3.72x
Hampshire 8 0.51x
Northumberland 5 0.44x
Royal Navy 3 3.30x
Durham 2 0.09x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.21x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.31x
Westmorland 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Stephen In Brannel in Cornwall leads with 61 Cundys recorded in 1881 and an index of 775.10x.

Place Total Index
St Stephen In Brannel 61 775.10x
Stoke Damerel 52 46.85x
Nottingham St Mary 24 9.04x
Burnham 21 378.38x
Gedney 18 362.17x
Lanteglos By Fowey 16 455.84x
Sheffield 15 6.24x
Swansea Town 15 13.79x
St Veep 13 928.57x
Whaplode 13 313.25x
Hulme 12 6.36x
Camborne 11 30.95x
Ashborne 10 123.30x
Aston 10 1.89x
Longnor 10 714.29x
St Austell 10 33.92x
St Pancras London 10 1.63x
Tavistock 10 55.37x
Exeter St Mary Major 9 94.14x
Linkinhorne 9 149.75x
Rumworth 9 69.66x
Scotton 9 1304.35x
St Dominick 9 416.67x
Blackley 8 50.47x
Walpole St Peter 8 269.36x
West Ham 8 2.41x
Aldershot 7 13.38x
Birmingham 7 1.09x
Brightside Bierlow 7 4.73x
Bristol St James St Paul 7 14.05x
Dawlish 7 59.17x
Falmouth 7 22.93x
Loughborough 7 18.26x
Salford 7 2.63x
St Winnow 7 237.29x
Ashover 6 101.01x
Chesterfield 6 13.42x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 3.91x
Exeter Holy Trinity 6 96.62x
Kensington London 6 1.42x
Monks Eleigh 6 397.35x
Plymouth Charles The 6 8.59x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 4.91x
Polstead 6 277.78x
St Blazey 6 79.26x
St Marylebone London 6 1.48x
West Mersea 6 208.33x
Westminster St James 6 7.66x
Basford 5 10.56x
Callington 5 99.40x
Cramlington 5 33.38x
Croydon 5 2.43x
Everton 5 1.74x
Islington London 5 0.68x
Pembroke St Mary 5 16.04x
Wetherby 5 101.63x
Widnes 5 7.67x
Dalton In Furness 4 11.46x
East Stonehouse 4 12.80x
Exeter St Olave 4 195.12x
Godley 4 110.19x
Handsworth 4 20.04x
Hough On Hill 4 396.04x
Hunslet 4 3.40x
Monckton 4 92.59x
Mylor 4 69.20x
Newbold Astbury 4 200.00x
Rotherhithe 4 4.25x
Saltash 4 59.79x
St Columb Major 4 55.87x
St George Hanover Square 4 2.98x
Upper Hallam 4 60.98x
West Looe 4 176.21x
Wombwell 4 18.17x
Bristol St Nicholas 3 111.52x
Leeds 3 0.70x
Ogley Hay 3 56.18x
Royal Navy 3 3.87x
Swansea 3 201.34x
Whittington 3 18.18x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cundy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 54
Elizabeth 41
Jane 18
Sarah 18
Ann 17
Emma 16
Eliza 13
Ellen 13
Alice 11
Annie 11
Emily 8
Caroline 7
Florence 7
Hannah 7
Margaret 7
Maria 7
Edith 6
Martha 6
Fanny 5
Louisa 5
Sophia 5
Bessie 4
Catherine 4
Charlotte 4
Clara 4
Esther 4
Harriett 4
Julia 4
Susan 4
Frances 3
Grace 3
Harriet 3
Helen 3
Lily 3
Rebecca 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Bertha 2
Ethel 2
Francis 2
Georgina 2
Isabela 2
L.A. 2
Lavinia 2
Mabel 2
Minnie 2
Rosina 2
Elizt. 1
Elizth. 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cundy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 48
John 35
Thomas 32
Henry 17
Charles 16
Richard 16
Joseph 15
James 14
Robert 13
George 12
Alfred 10
Arthur 9
Frederick 9
Samuel 9
Isaac 7
David 5
Albert 4
Harry 4
Walter 4
Earnest 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Fred 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
Edgar 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Jack 2
Peter 2
Richd. 2
Sampson 2
Thos. 2
Bertie 1
Cornelious 1
Cyrus 1
Davis 1
Elias 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Jno.Hy. 1
Jonathan 1
Jonh 1
Louis 1
Nathaniel 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Cundy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cundy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 781 people were recorded with the Cundy surname. That placed it at #4,748 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cundy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 827 in 2016. That gives Cundy a modern rank of #6,723.

What does the Cundy surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place now called Condy in Dorset.

What does the Cundy map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cundy bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.