Find out how popular the last name Cunningham is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Cunningham.

Cunningham, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Cunningham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cunningham in America

Cunningham is the 211th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cunningham surname appeared 135,718 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 46 people would have the surname Cunningham.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cunningham to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cunningham

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Cunningham.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cunningham was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Cunningham has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Cunningham was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cunningham, please contact us.

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