Cunniffe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Cunniffe name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in the settlement of Concliff in the county of Lancashire. The surname Cunniffe belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. The name in Anglo Saxon meant "War love."

Early Origins of the Cunniffe family

The surname Cunniffe was first found in Lancashire where Nicholas le Cumbecliue was first listed in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246. 1 The name traces back to Cundcliff, now known as Cunliffe Hill, in the township of Billington, near Blackburn in Lancashire. 2 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 - 1276 list Robert de Cundeclif in Yorkshire. 1 2

A few years later Adam de Cunliffe was listed in Yorkshire 1317-1318. 2 The Register of Freemen of the City of York in 1411 lists Thomas Cunclyff. 1

Early History of the Cunniffe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cunniffe research. Another 284 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1611, 1750, 1790, 1820 and 1871 are included under the topic Early Cunniffe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cunniffe Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Cunniffe has undergone many spelling variations, including Cunliffe, Cuncliffe, Concliffe, Conliffe, Cunlife, Conlife, Cunliff, Conliff and many more.

Early Notables of the Cunniffe family

More information is included under the topic Early Cunniffe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cunniffe migration to Australia +

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

Cunniffe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Patrick Cunniffe, (b. 1780), aged 40, Irish labourer who was convicted in Roscommon, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Cunniffe (post 1700) +

Bernard Cunniffe, English professional rugby league footballer who played from 1933 to 1938
Paul Cunniffe (1961-2001), English-born, Irish singer-songwriter
Emma Cunniffe (b. 1973), English actress, known for her roles in Rabbit on the Moon (2004), The Ruby Ring (1997) and Underground (1999)
Edward T Cunniffe, English politician
Tom Cunniffe, Gaelic footballer for Mayo

Historic Events for the Cunniffe family +

RMS Lusitania

Miss Hannah Cunniffe, American 3rd Class passenger from Boston, Massachusetts, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 4

The Cunniffe 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: Fideliter
Motto Translation: Faithfully.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dorothy
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/