NameCensus.

UK surname

Cunningham

A habitational surname referring to someone from a town called Cunningham, meaning "dwelling of the chief's family."

In the 1881 census there were 14,071 people recorded with the Cunningham surname, ranking it #288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 27,821, ranked #200, up from #288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge, IZ07 and Methil Methilhill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cunningham is 28,321 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 97.7%.

1881 census count

14,071

Ranked #288

Modern count

27,821

2016, ranked #200

Peak year

2010

28,321 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cunningham had 14,071 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 27,821 in 2016, ranked #200.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 17,024 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cunningham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cunningham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cunningham 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 7,986 #352
1861 historical 8,990 #304
1881 historical 14,071 #288
1891 historical 14,317 #295
1901 historical 17,024 #297
1911 historical 9,401 #522
1997 modern 25,146 #216
1998 modern 26,272 #214
1999 modern 26,555 #214
2000 modern 26,567 #214
2001 modern 26,048 #211
2002 modern 26,696 #211
2003 modern 26,216 #208
2004 modern 26,188 #207
2005 modern 26,037 #207
2006 modern 26,143 #206
2007 modern 26,560 #205
2008 modern 26,806 #203
2009 modern 27,639 #203
2010 modern 28,321 #201
2011 modern 27,841 #201
2012 modern 27,202 #205
2013 modern 27,812 #205
2014 modern 28,084 #205
2015 modern 27,854 #204
2016 modern 27,821 #200

Geography

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Where Cunninghams are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge, IZ07, Methil Methilhill, IZ10 and Methil East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge Fife
2 IZ07 East Lothian
3 Methil Methilhill Fife
4 IZ10 East Lothian
5 Methil East Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cunningham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cunningham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cunningham, 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 Cunningham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cunningham 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, Cunningham 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.

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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

Cunningham 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

Cunningham falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cunningham 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 Cunningham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cunningham

The surname Cunningham has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "cuinneag" meaning "milk pail" and "àm" meaning "place or time." This suggests that the name may have originated from a place where dairy cows were kept or milked.

The earliest recorded instance of the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists the names of Scottish noblemen who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. One of the names appearing in the rolls is "Willelmus de Cunyngham," indicating the presence of the Cunningham family in Ayrshire, Scotland, during that period.

The Cunninghams were an influential Scottish clan, with their ancestral lands located in the parish of Kilmaurs in Ayrshire. They played a significant role in Scottish history, particularly during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Sir William Cunningham (c. 1230-1285) was a notable figure who fought alongside Sir William Wallace against the English.

In the 14th century, the Cunninghams were granted the lands of Kilmaurs and Glengarnock by King Robert the Bruce. This led to the establishment of their power and influence in the region. Sir Robert Cunningham (c. 1300-1384) was a prominent member of the clan who served as a close advisor to King David II of Scotland.

The name Cunningham has also been linked to various place names in Scotland, such as Cunninghamhead, Cunninghamlands, and Cunninghamhill. These place names reflect the presence and influence of the Cunningham clan in different areas of the country.

Other notable individuals with the Cunningham surname include:

1. William Cunningham, 4th Earl of Glencairn (1490-1547), a Scottish nobleman and Protestant reformer. 2. Alexander Cunningham (1654-1737), a Scottish philosopher and historian. 3. Allan Cunningham (1784-1842), a Scottish poet and author. 4. Sir Alexander Cunningham (1814-1893), a British archaeologist who conducted extensive research in India. 5. Walter Cunningham (1932-), an American astronaut who participated in the Apollo 7 mission in 1968.

The surname Cunningham has a rich history, deeply rooted in the Scottish heritage and the influential Cunningham clan. Its origins can be traced back to the 12th century, and it has been associated with various notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Cunningham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cunningham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14,071 people were recorded with the Cunningham surname. That placed it at #288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cunningham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 27,821 in 2016. That gives Cunningham a modern rank of #200.

What does the Cunningham surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to someone from a town called Cunningham, meaning "dwelling of the chief's family."

What does the Cunningham map show?

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