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 2000 census data.

Popularity of Cunningham in America

Cunningham is the 149328th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cunningham surname appeared 101 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Cunningham.

The history of the last name Cunningham

The surname Cunnyngham originates from Scotland, first being recorded around the 12th century. The name is a variant of Cunningham, an ancient Scottish surname that has been associated primarily with Ayrshire in the southwest of Scotland. The name likely derived from a place name in the region known as "Cunninghame," which in Old Scottish Gaelic translates roughly to "the seat of the chief" or "the king's land." The elements "cing" meaning "king" and "ham" meaning "home" form the base of the name, indicating it once denoted royal or noble lands.

Historical references to the surname date back to the early medieval period. One of the earliest mentions of the Cunningham family appears in the records of the Scottish king David I, who reigned from 1124 to 1153, when a certain Warnebaldus de Cunninghame received a grant of land in Ayrshire. This is a significant early reference, linking the name with the establishment of feudal holdings in the area.

By the 13th century, variants such as de Cunynghame and Cuningham were well established. The Cunnyngham spelling appears to have evolved as a distinctive variant over time. One recognized bearer of the name is Sir William Cunningham of Kilmaurs, who lived in the 14th century and played a role in the Wars of Scottish Independence. He was an important figure around the time of Robert the Bruce, further dignifying the surname's nobility and martial heritage.

The surname is linked with various titles and estates, including the notable Elevatio of Sir Robert Cunningham of Auchenskeith, who served as an ambassador to England in the 15th century. Born around 1384 and dying in 1450, he held a respected position within the Scottish nobility, showcasing the surname's association with both diplomacy and governance.

In historical documents like the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded fealty swore to King Edward I of England, another early Cunningham, Uhtred de Cunningham, took the oath, representing Kilmaurs in Ayrshire. This highlights the recurring significance of the Cunninghams to both Scottish and early British history.

Furthermore, the Cunnyngham branch became particularly notable in literature and folklore, as illustrated by Sir Alexander Cunningham, born around 1650, who was a respected classical scholar. His works stretched the influence of the surname into academic and cultural realms, offering additional depth to its historical narrative.

Through the centuries, the surname Cunnyngham has encapsulated nobility, scholarship, and loyalty. Its rich history interwoven with Scotland's own evolution characterizes a lineage marked by significance and endurance.

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 2000 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.

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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