NameCensus.

UK surname

Cunning

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "cunning," meaning skilled or knowledgeable.

In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Cunning surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 233, ranked #17,625, up from #22,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Speen, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Vale of White Horse, Aberdour and Auchtertool and Stewartfield West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cunning is 515 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 187.7%.

1881 census count

81

Ranked #22,082

Modern count

233

2016, ranked #17,625

Peak year

1861

515 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cunning had 81 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016, ranked #17,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 515 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cunning surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cunning surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cunning 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 269 #8,303
1861 historical 515 #5,083
1881 historical 81 #22,082
1891 historical 474 #7,746
1901 historical 393 #9,606
1911 historical 219 #14,136
1997 modern 211 #17,048
1998 modern 209 #17,650
1999 modern 220 #17,160
2000 modern 208 #17,772
2001 modern 195 #18,215
2002 modern 188 #19,012
2003 modern 189 #18,738
2004 modern 185 #19,114
2005 modern 202 #18,016
2006 modern 199 #18,357
2007 modern 205 #18,194
2008 modern 214 #17,854
2009 modern 226 #17,587
2010 modern 222 #18,148
2011 modern 217 #18,271
2012 modern 217 #18,184
2013 modern 222 #18,198
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 227 #17,941
2016 modern 233 #17,625

Geography

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Where Cunnings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Speen, London parishes, Toxteth Park, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Vale of White Horse, Aberdour and Auchtertool, Stewartfield West, Fareham and Hunter's Quay. 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 Speen Berkshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Vale of White Horse 002 Vale of White Horse
2 Aberdour and Auchtertool Fife
3 Stewartfield West South Lanarkshire
4 Fareham 003 Fareham
5 Hunter's Quay Argyll and Bute

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cunning

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cunning

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Cunning surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cunning household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cunning 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

Cunning is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cunning falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cunning 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Cunning

The surname "CUNNING" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English word "cunnan," which means "to know" or "to be able to." This name was likely initially given as a descriptive nickname to individuals who were considered particularly knowledgeable or skilled in a specific craft or trade.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, with references found in various historical records and manuscripts. One notable mention is in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1279, where a person named John Cunninge is listed as a landowner.

In the 14th century, the name appears to have been concentrated primarily in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire in northern England. It is believed that the surname may have originated in these regions, as several place names containing variations of the word "cunning" can be found there, such as Cunningsworth and Cunningham.

During the Tudor period, several individuals bearing the name Cunning achieved notable positions and renown. One such figure was Robert Cunning (c. 1495-1557), a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the Dean of Worcester Cathedral and was highly regarded for his academic contributions.

Another prominent figure was Sir William Cunning (c. 1520-1597), a successful merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1585. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and played a significant role in the development of the city during the Elizabethan era.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various records, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of Yorkshire from 1672, where several families with the surname Cunning are listed as residents.

One notable individual from this period was John Cunning (1639-1713), a renowned mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of calculus and the study of celestial bodies.

As the centuries progressed, the name continued to be found across different regions of England, with variations in spelling emerging, such as Cunning, Cunninge, and Cunningham. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the evolving nature of the English language over time.

Throughout its history, the surname Cunning has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, merchants, politicians, and scientists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have borne this distinctive surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cunning families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cunning 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. Fife leads with 14 Cunnings recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.94x.

County Total Index
Fife 14 29.94x
Middlesex 9 1.14x
Renfrewshire 7 11.43x
Surrey 7 1.82x
Devon 6 3.65x
Gloucestershire 6 3.87x
Lancashire 6 0.64x
Ayrshire 5 8.46x
Nottinghamshire 4 3.76x
Roxburghshire 4 27.95x
Yorkshire 4 0.51x
Durham 3 1.28x
Cornwall 2 2.24x
Berkshire 1 1.69x
Essex 1 0.64x
Lanarkshire 1 0.39x
Lincolnshire 1 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunfermline in Fife leads with 14 Cunnings recorded in 1881 and an index of 194.71x.

Place Total Index
Dunfermline 14 194.71x
Bristol St James In 6 263.16x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 47.36x
Abbey 5 53.53x
Newton On Ayr 5 282.49x
St Pancras London 5 7.86x
Liverpool 4 7.03x
Melrose 4 322.58x
Norton 4 5714.29x
Sutton 4 143.88x
Dinnington 3 4285.71x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 29.47x
Illogan 2 84.39x
Southwark St Saviour 2 49.26x
Barton St Peter 1 172.41x
Bermondsey 1 4.25x
Chelmsford 1 37.31x
East Greenock 1 17.30x
Govan 1 1.58x
Hammersmith London 1 5.14x
Hulme 1 5.11x
Islington London 1 1.31x
Kensington London 1 2.28x
Manchester 1 2.37x
Newbury 1 52.63x
North South Anston 1 294.12x
Port Glasgow 1 33.78x
Shoreditch London 1 2.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Ellen 3
Sarah 3
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Jeanette 1
Jessie 1
Lucy 1
Marey 1
Margaret 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 3
John 3
William 3
George 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Allen 1
Cameron 1
Dennis 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jno.Josh. 1
Robert 1
Robt.James 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Walter 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 Cunning households.

FAQ

Cunning surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cunning surname in 1881?

In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Cunning surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cunning surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016. That gives Cunning a modern rank of #17,625.

What does the Cunning surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "cunning," meaning skilled or knowledgeable.

What does the Cunning map show?

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