Cunningham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Cunningham

What does the name Cunningham mean?

The ancestors of the name Cunningham come from the ancient Scottish tribe known as the Dalriadans. They lived along the rugged west coast of Scotland and on the Hebrides islands and used the name to indicate a person who lived at Cunningham in Ayrshire. However, numerous branches of the Cunningham family spread all over Scotland. Two of the most prominent branches of the Cunningham Clan, the Cunninghams of Corsehill and the Cunninghams of Caprington, trace their ancestry back to the medieval era.

Cunningham Coat of Arms Creation

The Cuninghames have as their crest a unicorn, and the motto is, " Over fork over."

The unicorn is so named from its having only one horn, which grows out of its forehead. It represents strength, a haughty mind, and one who would rather die than be brought into subjection. The horn was said to possess a powerful antidote against poison, and that other animals were glad to drink of water stirred by the horn.

As to the motto, the story is that Malcolm, the first of the family, assisted Malcolm (afterwards King Malcolm Canmore) to escape when pursued by Macbeth, by forking straw or hay over him. The King afterwards rewarded him by the gift of the Thanedom of Cuninghame, and the figure on the shield like the letter Y represents the shake-fork. The other story is that the motto is derived from the fact that an ancestor had charge of the King's horses, and the shakefork was the instrument by which hay was forked to them. 1

Early Origins of the Cunningham family

The surname Cunningham was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire.

About the year 1050, it is said that Warnebald Cunningham saved King Malcolm Canmore by hiding him in the barn and covering him with hay concealing him from his pursuer the Pretender King, MacBeth. The grateful King Malcolm later bestowed on Warnebald the lands of Cunningham and the motto "Over Fork Over." 2

Early History of the Cunningham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cunningham research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1490, 1520, 1548, 1574, 1575, 1578, 1610, 1630, 1664, 1670, 1716 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cunningham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cunningham Spelling Variations

Many spelling variations of Cunningham have been recorded over the years, including These are the result of the medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English. Cunningham, Cunninghame, Cunyngham, Cunnyngham, Cunnynghame, Cummingham and many more.

Early Notables of the Cunningham family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

Cuthbert Cunningham, 3rd Earl of Glencairn
William Cunningham, 4th Earl of Glencairn (c. 1490-1548), a Scottish nobleman
Alexander Cunningham, 5th Earl of Glencairn (died 1574), Scottish nobleman and Protestant reformer
William Cunningham, 6th Earl of Glencairn (ca. 1520-1578)
James Cunningham, 7th Earl of Glencairn (died 1630), a Scottish peer, member of the Privy Council of Scotland
William Cunningham, 8th Earl of Glencairn (1575-1630), a Scottish nobleman
William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn (1610-1664), a Scottish nobleman, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, Chief of Clan Cunningham

Cunningham World Ranking

In the United States, the name Cunningham is the 180^th most popular surname with an estimated 134,298 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Cunningham is ranked the 345^th most popular surname with an estimated 13,234 people with that name. 4 And in Australia, the name Cunningham is the 237^th popular surname with an estimated 14,320 people with that name. 5 New Zealand ranks Cunningham as 189^th with 2,961 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Cunningham as 192^nd with 29,294 people. 7

Migration of the Cunningham family to Ireland

Some of the Cunningham family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cunningham migration to the United States +

Settlers from Scotland put down roots in communities all along the east coast of North America. Some moved north from the American colonies to Canada as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence. As Clan societies and highland games started in North America in the 20th century many Scots rediscovered parts of their heritage. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Cunningham were among those contributors:

Cunningham Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Cunningham, aged 21, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Speedwell" 8
Nehemiah Cunningham, who arrived in Virginia in 1641 8
William Cunningham, who landed in Virginia in 1658 8
Darby Cunningham, who arrived in Maryland in 1663 8
Margaret Cunningham, who landed in Maryland in 1668 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cunningham Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Ann Cunningham, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1729 8
Miles Cunningham, who landed in Virginia in 1769-1770 8
Henry Cunningham, who landed in Florida in 1771 8
Agnes Cunningham, aged 24, who landed in New York in 1774 8
Jean Cunningham, aged 26, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1775 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cunningham Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Patt Cunningham, aged 30, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 8
Robert W Cunningham, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1804 8
John Cunningham, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 8
Hugh Cunningham, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 8
Nicholas Cunningham, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1809 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cunningham Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Robert Anderson Cunningham, who arrived in Alabama in 1927 8

Cunningham migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cunningham Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Cunningham, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1750
Danl Cunningham, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
John Cunningham, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
John Cunningham, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1776
Richard Cunningham, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1776
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cunningham Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Cunningham, who landed in Canada in 1812 as part of the Red River Settlement
John Cunningham, aged 18, who arrived in Canada in 1812
John Cunningham, who arrived in Canada in 1812
Hiram A Cunningham, who landed in Canada in 1830
Michael Cunningham, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1832
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cunningham migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Cunningham Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Bryan Cunningham, (b. 1768), aged 25, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1802 9

Cunningham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Margaret Cunningham, (b. 1766), aged 46, English house keeper who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for life for forgery, transported aboard the "Emu" in October 1812, the ship was captured and the passengers put ashore, the convicts were then transported aboard the "Broxburnebury" in January 1812 arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. James Cunningham, British Convict who was convicted in Cape of Good Hope, South Africa for life, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. William Cunningham, (b. 1795), aged 25, Irish labourer who was convicted in Roscommon, Ireland for 14 years for possessing forged notes, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. Alexander Cunningham, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Arthur Cunningham, English convict from Leicester, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on July 29th, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cunningham migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Cunningham Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

J Cunningham, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1841
Dr. R. N. Cunningham, British settler arriving as the 1st detachment of Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps travelling from Tilbury, Essex aboard the ship "Ramillies" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 6th August 1847 15
Mr. William Cunningham, British settler arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Sir George Symour" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th November 1847 15
Mrs. Mary Ann Cunningham, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Sir George Symour" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th November 1847 15
Mr. James Cunningham, Scottish settler travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Philip Laing" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 15th April 1848 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cunningham migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16

Cunningham Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

John Cunningham, his wife and son, who settled in Barbados in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Cunningham (post 1700) +

Korey Cunningham (1995-2024), American professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) from 2018 to 2022.
Loren Duane Cunningham (1935-2023), American missionary who was the founder of the international Christian missionary organization Youth with a Mission
Walter Cunningham (1932-2023), born Ronnie Walter Cunningham, American astronaut, NASA's third civilian astronaut, lunar module pilot on the Apollo 7 mission in 1968, last surviving crew member of Apollo 7
Joseph Robert "Joe" Cunningham Jr. (1931-2021), American Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder from Paterson, New Jersey who played from 1954 to 1966
Fern Cunningham (1949-2020), American sculptor, best known for Harriet Tubman Memorial, honoring a woman on city-owned land in Boston
Mrs. Colette Margaret Catherine Cunningham B.E.M., British Director for Scottish North American Business Council and Events Manager for CBI Scotland was appointed the British Empire Medal on 8th June 2018, for services to Business and Public Service 17
Anthony "T. J." Cunningham (1972-2019), American National Football League safety who played for the Seattle Seahawks in 1996
Bennie Lee Cunningham Jr. (1954-2018), American football tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1976-1985)
David Surmier "Dave" Cunningham Jr. (1935-2017), American business executive and politician elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 1973
William John "Bill" Cunningham Jr. (1929-2016), American fashion photographer for The New York Times
... (Another 32 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Cunningham family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. James J. Cunningham, British Cook from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 18
Mr. Robert Alexander Cunningham (1889-1914), British First Class Passenger returning from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland 19

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Helen Cunningham (1868-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 20

HMS Hood

Mr. Richard F Cunningham (b. 1914), English Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Luton, Bedfordshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 21
Mr. John Cunningham (b. 1920), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Hull, Yorkshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 21

HMS Royal Oak

Edward Wilfred Cunningham (d. 1939), British Corporal with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 22

Lady of the Lake

Mr. Robert Cunningham, Irish traveller from County Tyrone, Ireland who sailed aboard the "Lady of the Lake" from Greenock, Scotland on 8th April 1833 to Quebec, Canada when the ship hit ice and sunk of the coast of Newfoundland on the 11th May 1833 and he survived the sinking

Mount Mulligan Mine

James Spence Cunningham, Australian coal miner who was killed in the Mount Mulligan Mine explosion in 1921

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Edward Cunningham, English Able-Bodied Seaman from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 23

RMS Titanic

Mr. Andrew Cunningham, aged 35, English Bedroom Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 4 24
Mr. B. Cunningham (d. 1912), aged 30, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 24
Mr. Alfred Fleming Cunningham (d. 1912), aged 21, Irish Second Class passenger from Belfast, Ireland who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 24

SS Alcoa Puritan

S.G. Cunningham, American Oiler from Prichard, Alabama, who was working aboard the SS Alcoa Puritan (1942) traveling from Port of Spain, Trinidad to Mobile, Alabama when it was torpedoed by U-boat U-507; he survived the sinking 25

The Cunningham Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Over fork over

Sources +

Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/boddingtons
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Emu
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dorothy
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 151 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1823
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 31 October 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Alcoa_Puritan_(1941) - (Retrieved 2018, February 8th)