The name Cundliffe first arose amongst the
Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in the settlement of Concliff in the county of
Lancashire. The surname Cundliffe 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 Cundliffe family
The surname Cundliffe was first found in
Lancashire where Nicholas le Cumbecliue was first listed in the Assize Rolls of
Lancashire in 1246. The name traces back to Cundcliff, now known as Cunliffe Hill, in the township of Billington, near Blackburn in
Lancashire.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) The
Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 - 1276 list Robert de Cundeclif in
Yorkshire.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X) [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) A few years later Adam de Cunliffe was listed in
Yorkshire 1317-1318.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) The Register of Freemen of the City of York in 1411 lists Thomas Cunclyff.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Early History of the Cundliffe family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cundliffe research.
Another 567 words (40 lines of text) covering the years 1611, 1750, 1790, 1820 and 1871 are included under the topic Early Cundliffe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Cundliffe Spelling Variations
One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The
spelling variations under which the name Cundliffe has appeared include Cunliffe, Cuncliffe, Concliffe, Conliffe, Cunlife, Conlife, Cunliff, Conliff and many more.
Early Notables of the Cundliffe family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Cundliffe Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Cundliffe family to the New World and Oceana
At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in
England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left
England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Cundliffe arrived in North America very early: Henry Cunliffe who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1630; John and Esther Cunliffe arrived in Maryland in 1775 and later settled in Virginia; John Cunliffe settled in New York State in 1775.
The Cundliffe 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.