Show ContentsCunday History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Cunday is thought to be ultimately derived from Middle English, Old French word "conduit," which denoted a water channel. As a name it is assumed that the first bearer of the name lived near a canal of some kind.

The first record of the family was found in "Conde, near Bayeux where Arnfrid Camerarius witnessed a charter in Normandy 1066. In 1086 he held 26 lordships in Barony in England 1. Robert, his son, gave his estate of Condy to Holy Trinity, Caen, 1082. He is named Robert de Condy in England 1103. His brother Audin de Condy was Bishop of Bayeux 1112, and Turstin de Condy Archbishop of York 1119. Another brother, Richard de Condy companied Duke Robert to Palestine 1096." 2

Early Origins of the Cunday family

The surname Cunday was first found in Yorkshire where a Roger de Cundi was on record in circa 1150. Early records of the Knights Templars show Aliz de Condi in 1185 in Lincolnshire. The Pipe Rolls of 1200 for Lincolnshire show Nicholas Cundy. 3

Further to the north in Scotland, "there was at one time a family of Condie of that Ilk, who derived their name from the lands of Condie, near Forgandenny, Perthshire. John de Conady is in record in Perth in 1414." 4

Early History of the Cunday family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cunday research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1334, 1340, 1414, 1541, 1682, 1688, 1717, 1737 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cunday History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cunday Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Condy, Condie, Conedy, Conndy, Conndie, Caundie, Caundy, Cundie, Cundy, Coneday, Conady, Connedie, Caunedy, Caunnday, Caundey, Coundey, Conday, Condey, Connidy, Cunnidie, Cuneday, Cunady, Cunnedie, Caunidy and many more.

Early Notables of the Cunday family

Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cunday Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Cunday family to Ireland

Some of the Cunday family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


New Zealand Cunday 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:

Cunday Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Simon Cunday, (b. 1851), aged 24, Cornish carpenter departing on 24th July 1875 aboard the ship "Himalaya" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 17th November 1875 5


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  5. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf


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