Surname Cunn - Meaning and Origin
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Cunn: What does the surname Cunn mean?
The last name Cunn is derived from the Middle English/Old French word "conne" meaning "charm, wit, or mother-wit". It is believed that the surname was originally used to describe someone who was clever and talented.
The name is also said to have originated from the Scottish-Gaelic phrase "cuinneag" which translates to "swiftness of wit". This implies that the Cunn surname was used to describe an individual that was both sharp-minded and quick on their feet.
It is possible that the surname Cunn is an occupational name derived from the Old French ‘cun’ signifying a woman of low standing in society. This could be a reference to an unmarried woman into the early 14th century when the name first appeared in records.
Another theory is that the name Cunn is a topographical one, originated from the Old French ‘cunne’ signifying a low-lying pasture or meadow.
No matter which theory is correct, the surname Cunn is an interesting and unique one. It is likely to have appeared first in Scotland and England, due to its French-sounding nature. The name Cunn may still be prominent in areas of mainland Europe, particularly in France, where the spelling might be slightly different.
Order DNA origin analysisCunn: Where does the name Cunn come from?
The surname Cunn is generally found in areas of the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States today. While the exact origins of the name are uncertain, some sources report that it is of English or Irish origin. It is most common in the United Kingdom, where it has been found throughout England and Wales since at least the 15th century. Within England, there is recorded evidence of the name in the west-country counties, such as Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Shropshire.
The surname is also common in other English-speaking countries, particularly Australia and the United States, where it has been in use since the mid- to late-19th century. Records trace the American branch of the family back to large groups from the south-western states like Texas and California.
In Scotland and Ireland, the surname is much less common, nevertheless it still has some presence there. Notable figures in the British Isles who bear the Cunn name include English trapeze artist Thomas Henry Cunn (1902-1940), and British archaeologist and historian Jeremy Cunn, of the Oxford Archaeological Unit.
Altogether, the Cunn surname today is most frequent in countries of the British Isles, particularly in England, but is also relatively common in Australia and the United States.
Variations of the surname Cunn
The surname Cunn is a surname of English origin, and appears to be derived from the Old English word ‘cyne’ which means ‘royal’. The earliest record of the Cunn surname appears in the Domesday book of 1086, making it one of the oldest known surnames.
Variant spellings for the surname Cunn include Conn, Conne, Coon, Koon, Kunne, and Kunns. All of these spellings derive from the same root words as the original Cunn surname.
Although the name is rarely found outside of the British Isles today, there are some exceptions, with some American, Dutch, and German variations. In the United States the surname can be spelled Con, Conne, Coen, or Coon. In Dutch, the name is spelled Koene or Koonen, and in German the surname is often spelled Kunne, Kunna, Kunne, Kunster, or Kunst.
Surnames derived from the same root words as Cunn include Cunningham, Cunningsen, Cunneen, Cunni, Cunnyngham, Cunnion, Connelly, Conlin, Conley, Conly, and Conneely. All of these surnames share a common origin with the Cunn surname, and can be found in the records of the British Isles.
The total of all variants of the surname Cunn makes it one of the most common surnames in the British Isles.
Famous people with the name Cunn
- Alison Cunn: Actress
- Mike Cunn: Singer-songwriter
- Deborah Cunn: Curator and writer
- Barry Cunn: Former professional rugby league footballer
- Darren Cunn: Artist
- Emelie Cunn: Voice actress
- Georgina Cunn: Councillor for Monte Council in Australia
- Richard Cunn: Travel writer and photographer
- Gina Cunn: Entrepreneur
- Paul Cunn: Former professional rugby league footballer
- Jeremy Cunn: Film director and author
- David Cunn: Author and professor