| ![Show Contents]() Cuniff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The lineage of the name Cuniff begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived in the settlement of Concliff in the county of Lancashire. The surname Cuniff 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 Cuniff familyThe surname Cuniff 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 Cuniff familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cuniff research. Another 284 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1611, 1750, 1790, 1820 and 1871 are included under the topic Early Cuniff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Cuniff Spelling VariationsOnly 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 Cuniff has undergone many spelling variations, including Cunliffe, Cuncliffe, Concliffe, Conliffe, Cunlife, Conlife, Cunliff, Conliff and many more. Early Notables of the Cuniff familyMore information is included under the topic Early Cuniff Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Cuniff migration to the United States | + |
To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Cuniff were among those contributors:
Cuniff Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Thomas and William Cuniff, who immigrated to Indiana in 1844
- Thomas Cuniff, who landed in Tippecanoe County, Ind in 1844 3
- William Cuniff, who arrived in Tippecanoe County, Ind in 1844 3
| Cuniff migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Cuniff Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Mr. James Cuniff U.E. who settled in Adolphus Town [Adolphustown], Ontario c. 1783 4
- Mr. John Cuniff U.E. who settled in Adolphus Town [Adolphustown], Ontario c. 1783 4
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.
- 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)
- 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)
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
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Cuniff migration to the United States 
Cuniff migration to Canada 
England
Ireland
