Cunningham Name Study

Profile manager: Terri Rick [send private message]

This is a One Name Study to collect together in one place everything about the surname Cunningham and its variants. The hope is that other researchers like you will join our study to help make it a valuable reference point for people studying lines that cross or intersect. Please contact the project leader, add categories to your profiles, add your questions to the bulletin board, add details of your name research, etc.

I'm no expert in this area, so if you would like to join in and provide assistance with research, clarification or resources - please let me know.

Meaning of the last name "Cunningham"

In this area there is still much debate and confusion. The one thing that all agree on is this name is considered a territorial surname. This means the surname developed because people living in a specific area decided to adopt "Cunninghham" as their last name.

The Gaelic spelling of Cunningham would be Coineagan, because of this and the emmigration of people from Scotland to the various parts of the world, there are many derivatives; however, the Official adopted spelling is Cunningham. If the name is traced back, it's clear the name developed in Aryshire, from the work "cuinneag" which means "milk pail" and the Samon work "ham" that meant "village". Put this together and you get "Milk Pail Village".

Exactly where is Cunningham? It's located along the southern Scotland border in Ayrshire. There were three districts that bordered Cunningham, Renfrew bordered the North, Clydesdale, the East, Kyle, was to the South.

There were three distinct bailieries of Ayrshire, and Cunningham was one of these three major "districts". But time changes and with the passing of the Sir William De Cunningham in the 19th century Cunningham became swallowed up by Kilmarnock and Kilmaurs. Both of these being held by the Sir William's descendents.

Caprington Castle originally belonged to a branch of the Wallace family, and was mentioned in a charter bearing the date 1385, under the name "Castellum turris fortalice de Caprington." Adam Cuninghame, the first Cuninghame to own Caprington Castle, was a grandchild of Sir William Cuninghame of Kilmaurs. Adam Cuninghame obtained Caprington Castle by his Marriage to a daughter of Sir Duncan Wallace of Sundrum during the reign of King James II of Scotland. One historical item of interest may found at Caprington Castle is the marriage certificate of Annie Laurie as well as her hand-written will.

Resources for Cunningham

• Cunningham Resources
  • The Peerage of Scotland
  • A History of the County of Renfrew

Cunningham Demographics

The Cunningham Family migrated from Ireland/Scotland to current day United States of America.

The First Cunningham located in the Shenandoah Valley. The Cunningham line living in Northern West Virginia. Adam Cunningham arrived in approximately 1740 with his brother Walter Cunningham. They took up residence by renting land that was inherited by Lord Fairfax.

Hugh Cunningham Issues

There exists a ton of issues in the Hugh Cunningham section of Shenandoah Valley and hence to West Virginia. In an effort to pin down the elusive Hugh Cunningham that people have mistakenly insisted was Adam and Thomas Cunningham's father. I've started gathering/creating sourced profiles to show the factual genealogies of the various Hugh Cunningham.

Here is one Hugh Cunningham that is clearly the son of John Cunningham.

• Hugh Orr Cunningham
  • Hugh made his home in Monongalia County, Western Virginia.

Cunningham Twists and Turns

Leah Cunningham married Moses Hall

• Leah Cunningham She was bonded to Moses Hall on 29 Jan 1790. The marriage took place on 2 Feb 1790 in Harrison, West Virginia per page 80, Marriage Bonds 1784-1803, Harrison County Courthouse, Harrison County, West Virginia. This document specifically states she is the daughter of Edward Cunningham. So why can't I find a birth or death cert stating this?

• Located death documentation stating that Leah is a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Cunningham. This record states the death date of 12 Nov 1862, Line 2 of the "H" section, Page 7, Register of Deaths for 1862, Marion County, West Virginia. The record states she was born in Harrison County, West Virginia, married, age of death is 89 years and 25 days. Mother is listed as Sarah Cunningham while the father is listed as Benjamin Cunningham. There is no doubt this is the same person. The person providing the information is her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Hall.

Famous Cunningham's

Charlie Cunningham was a construction company owner that only hired African American workers (specifically ex cons and men newly out of prison) Charlie knew that no other businesses would hire ex cons and he wanted to provide them with means to reclaim their dignity and life.

Cunningham's on Wiki Tree

Here is the complete Cunningham. Once you get to this link, if you look on the top right hand side of the page, you can click on one of the last name variants to view those profiles.

When you add yourself or a Cunningham relative to WikiTree your addition(s) will automatically be included on the index the following day.