CUNNINGTON
Cunnington is a surname of English origin, deriving from the British Isles and spoken primarily in England. The name is traditionally associated with Christian families and is considered a locational surname linked to geographical features.
The etymology of Cunnington can be traced in two distinct ways. One explanation is patronymic: it is formed from the Old English personal name Cuna or Cuna combined with the suffix -ing, meaning “descendant” or “son of.” In this sense, the surname denotes a person who was clever, crafty, or sly, traits that were valued in Anglo‑Saxon society. Variations of the patronymic form include Cunington and Cunyngton.
The locational theory is supported by historical charters. Two places once called Comington in Cambridgeshire, one formerly in Huntingdonshire, appear in early record. The Cambridgeshire site is recorded in Saxon charters around 1000 as Cunnington and in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Cunitone. The Huntingdonshire location is documented as Cunictune in 957 and as Coninctune in the Domesday Book. Both names share a meaning derived from the Old Norse kunung – “king” or “chieftain” – and the Old English tun – “enclosure” or “settlement.” Thus, the surname originally signified “the king's or chieftain's settlement.” Modern spellings record the name as Cunnington and Connington.
Historical documents record the appearance of the family name in the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries. The earliest known spelling is that of Robert de Conintone, dated 1275 in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire during the reign of King Edward I, known as “the Hammer of the Scots”. In the seventeenth century, the marriage of Alen Cunnington and Isabela Worship was recorded at St. Martin in the Fields in Westminster, London, on 30 May 1642.
Today, the surname Cunnington is found across the United Kingdom and in former British colonies. Its variations, including Cunington and Cunyngton, are occasionally encountered, reflecting historical changes in spelling and pronunciation. The name remains a testament to the linguistic heritage of England, combining elements of Old English, Old Norse, and medieval administrative record‑keeping.
Typical given names associated with the Cunnington surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Philip
- Simon
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Gillian
- Jayne
- Jean
- Julie
- Karen
- Margaret
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Polly
- Sarah
- Susan
- Wendy
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Cunnington in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Cunnington are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Hobnob.
There are approximately 2,177 people named Cunnington in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,920th most common surname in Britain. Around 33 in a million people in Britain are named Cunnington.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Cunnington
- Shaun Cunnington - Football player and manager
- Eddie Cunnington - Scottish football player
- Douglas Cunnington - Canadian politician (1885 to 1973)
- Eveline Willett Cunnington - Social reformer, feminist, lecturer, writer (1849 to 1916)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.