Surname Cunlive - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Cunlive: What does the surname Cunlive mean?
The last name Cunlive is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic surname MacCunnlaobh. The suffix -live is an Anglicization of this Gaelic word which translates to “son of”, thus the literal meaning of this surname is “son of the hound-like one”. It’s possible that the MacCunnlaobh who first bore this name helped train hounds for hunting and was recognized for his skill in this area.
The Cunlive surname is found most frequently in Scotland, particularly in the regions of Aberdeenshire, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. In other countries, it can be found mainly in Australia, Canada, and the United States.
The Cunlive family name is not one of the most common Scottish surnames, yet it is still a proud part of many Scottish families’ heritage. For example, today there are numerous members of the Cunlive family living all over the world, including Canada, the United States, and Australia.
This surname is generally only passed down within certain families and may have associations of loyalty, integrity, and courage that have been preserved through generations of Cunlive descendants. It could also be a reminder of hard-working and skilled ancestors who may have been significant to the development of Scotland’s hunting industry centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisCunlive: Where does the name Cunlive come from?
The last name Cunlive is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland. According to genealogy records, the surname has been traced back to the medieval era in England, making it an old and widespread surname.
The origin of the surname Cunlive isn't clear, however there are some theories. It is likely that it derived from the old English words meaning "jackdaw bed" or "where jackdaws roosted". This may indicate an association with the jackdaw, a species of crow with a striking black and white plumage. This theory also suggests that those with this surname may originally have been involved in hunting jackdaws.
Today, the Cunlive surname remains well-distributed in the United Kingdom and Ireland, although relatively rare in other countries. In England, the name is more common in the central and western parts of the country, while in Ireland it is more widespread in Ulster, Connaught and Munster.
The name Cunlive is quite an uncommon surname and its origin is still unclear. However, there is evidence that the name was in existence from the medieval age and still remains today, particularly in Britain and Ireland.
Variations of the surname Cunlive
The surname Cunlive has various spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin. The most popular variant of the Cunlive surname is Conliffe. Conliffe is an English surname which derives from an Anglo-Saxon word for a ‘belt’. The Cunlive surname also has variants such as Conliff, Conley, Conlee and Conly. Other surnames of the same origin include Collings, Colls and Kellow.
The Cunlive surname is often spelled with a double "l" or as Conlive. Cunlif is an alternate spellings of the surname. A variant of the spelling is Cunly. Variants such as— Conlay, Connelay, Connely, Conly and Conlye are also used.
The surnames originating from the same root date back to ancient times, when people used first names to indicate family relationships. For example, “Con-” indicates belonging to a family or connection with a clan, while “-ly” indicated a diminutive form. This explains why the surname Cunlive is also seen with various spellings and variants.
The surname Cunlive is found in many parts of the British Isles, particularly in England, and is of ancient origin. Its earliest known recorded mention is from 1244, in the form of Conliff, when a William Conliff was mentioned in the Duodecimal Court Rolls of Derbyshire, England.
Famous people with the name Cunlive
- RaeCunnlive Converse: She is an artist who focuses on painting and digital media.
- Toni Cunlivie-Cheevers: She is an award-winning financial educator and author.
- Tory Cunliffe: He is a professional football player who plays for the English Premier League team Burnley F.C.
- Eilish Cunlive: She is an actress, best known for her role in the British television drama Monroe.
- Michael Cunlivie: He is an actor and voice artist, and is best known for his voiceover work in video games and television commercials.
- David Cunliffe: He is a former New Zealand Member of Parliament and Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party.
- Mark Cunliffe: He is a former English professional football player, who played for several teams including Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. and Preston North End F.C.
- Johnny Cunliffe: He is a former American television actor, best known for his role as “Little John” in the popular western Gunsmoke.
- Billy Cunliffe: He is a professional golf player and a winner of the 2001 Seve Trophy.
- Philip Cunlivie: He was an acclaimed playwright and novelist, known for works such as “The Hobbies of Life”.