NameCensus.

UK surname

Cunnane

Originally a surname derived from an Irish Gaelic personal name meaning "wolf cub".

In the 1881 census there were 30 people recorded with the Cunnane surname, ranking it #29,363 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 268, ranked #16,003, up from #29,363 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winwick, Sutton Coldfield and Birstall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chiltern, Wakefield and Oldham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cunnane is 289 in 2005. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 793.3%.

1881 census count

30

Ranked #29,363

Modern count

268

2016, ranked #16,003

Peak year

2005

289 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cunnane had 30 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,363 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016, ranked #16,003.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 117 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Cunnane surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cunnane surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cunnane 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 10 #31,497
1861 historical 14 #32,072
1881 historical 30 #29,363
1891 historical 45 #30,747
1901 historical 67 #26,703
1911 historical 117 #20,757
1997 modern 272 #14,451
1998 modern 286 #14,318
1999 modern 283 #14,501
2000 modern 287 #14,345
2001 modern 277 #14,474
2002 modern 281 #14,619
2003 modern 280 #14,472
2004 modern 279 #14,578
2005 modern 289 #14,166
2006 modern 278 #14,623
2007 modern 267 #15,225
2008 modern 263 #15,505
2009 modern 257 #16,099
2010 modern 266 #16,067
2011 modern 262 #16,098
2012 modern 265 #15,862
2013 modern 267 #16,053
2014 modern 267 #16,161
2015 modern 265 #16,139
2016 modern 268 #16,003

Geography

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Where Cunnanes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winwick, Sutton Coldfield, Birstall, Manchester and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chiltern, Wakefield, Oldham, Birmingham and Leeds. 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 Winwick Lancashire
2 Sutton Coldfield Warwickshire
3 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chiltern 005 Chiltern
2 Wakefield 022 Wakefield
3 Oldham 018 Oldham
4 Birmingham 023 Birmingham
5 Leeds 042 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cunnane

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cunnane

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cunnane, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Cunnane surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Cunnane household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Cunnane is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Cunnane is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cunnane falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cunnane is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Cunnane

The surname Cunnane originates from Ireland and can be traced back to the early 17th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic name "Ó Conamhna," which means "descendant of Conámha," an ancient personal name meaning "wisdom" or "prudence."

The name is believed to have originated in County Galway, where it was particularly common in the parishes of Annaghdown, Kilcummin, and Moycullen. The earliest recorded reference to the name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by Franciscan monks in the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name Cunnane was anglicized from its Gaelic form, leading to various spellings such as Cunane, Cunane, and Cunane. During this period, the name was also associated with the placename Connemara, a region in western County Galway where many Cunnane families resided.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Cunnane was Seán Ó Conamhna, a 17th-century Irish poet and historian from County Galway. His works, which included poems and historical writings, are considered important sources of information about the cultural and political life of Ireland during that time.

Another notable figure was Patrick Cunnane (1803-1878), an Irish nationalist and member of the Young Ireland movement. He played a significant role in the Irish Rebellion of 1848 and was later exiled to Australia for his involvement.

In the 19th century, the name Cunnane was also found in County Mayo, where a prominent family of the name resided in the town of Ballina. One member of this family, John Cunnane (1850-1923), was a successful businessman and philanthropist who donated funds for the construction of several churches and schools in the area.

Other notable individuals with the surname Cunnane include Mary Cunnane (1888-1968), an Irish-American labor activist and organizer who played a crucial role in the women's labor movement in the early 20th century, and Seán Cunnane (1919-2002), an Irish scholar and author renowned for his works on Irish literature and folklore.

Overall, the surname Cunnane has a rich history deeply rooted in Irish culture and tradition, with its origins traceable to ancient Gaelic personal names and placenames in the western counties of Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cunnane families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cunnane 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. Lancashire leads with 16 Cunnanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.61x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 16 4.61x
Warwickshire 9 12.20x
Yorkshire 4 1.38x
Staffordshire 1 1.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 9 Cunnanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.31x.

Place Total Index
Aston 9 44.31x
Bury 6 151.52x
Blackburn 4 43.34x
Radcliffe 3 179.64x
Campsall 2 6666.67x
Sproatley Wyton 2 5000.00x
Cheetham 1 38.61x
Pilkington 1 75.76x
Scarisbrick 1 250.00x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 9.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Catherine 2
Alice 1
Bridget 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Patrick 5
John 4
Bernard 3
Michael 3
Thomas 2
Brian 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Philip 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Cunnane households.

FAQ

Cunnane surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cunnane surname in 1881?

In 1881, 30 people were recorded with the Cunnane surname. That placed it at #29,363 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cunnane surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016. That gives Cunnane a modern rank of #16,003.

What does the Cunnane surname mean?

Originally a surname derived from an Irish Gaelic personal name meaning "wolf cub".

What does the Cunnane map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cunnane 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.