Cunningham is a surname of Scottish origin, see

Clan Cunningham Clan Cunningham is a Scottish clan. The traditional origins of the clan are placed in the 12th century. However, the first contemporary record of the clan chiefs is in the thirteenth century. The chiefs of the Clan Cunningham supported Robert the ...

Notable people sharing this surname

A–C

* Aaron Cunningham (born 1986), American baseball player * Abe Cunningham, American drummer * Adrian Cunningham (born 1960), Australian archivist *

Alan Cunningham General Sir Alan Gordon Cunningham, (1 May 1887 – 30 January 1983) was a senior officer of the British Army noted for his victories over Italian forces in the East African Campaign during the Second World War. Later he served as the seventh ...

, British Second World War general *

Alexander Cunningham Major General Sir Alexander Cunningham (23 January 1814 – 28 November 1893) was a British Army engineer with the Bengal Engineer Group who later took an interest in the history and archaeology of India. In 1861, he was appointed to the newl ...

(1814–1893), British archaeologist, father of the Archaeological Survey of India * Alexander Cunningham, 1st Earl of Glencairn (1426–1488), a Scottish nobleman *

Alexander Cunningham, 5th Earl of Glencairn Alexander Cunningham, 5th Earl of Glencairn (Born around 1515 and died 23 November 1574) was a Scottish nobleman and Protestant reformer, prominent in the Scottish Reformation. Biography Alexander Cunningham was the son of William Cunningham, ...

(died 1574), a Scottish nobleman and covenanter * Alfred Austell Cunningham, American aviation pioneer *

Allan Cunningham (disambiguation) Allan, Alan or Allen Cunningham may refer to: *Alan Cunningham (1887–1983), World War II general * Allan Cunningham (author) (1784–1842), Scottish poet and author * Allan Cunningham (botanist) (1791–1839), British botanist and explorer * Alla ...

or Allen Cunningham, several people *

Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, (7 January 1883 – 12 June 1963) was a senior officer of the Royal Navy during the Second World War. He was widely known by his initials, "ABC". Cunningham ...

, British Second World War admiral * Andrew Cunningham (disambiguation) or Andy Cunningham, several people * Archibald Cunningham (1879–1915), Scottish footballer * Bert Cunningham (1865–1962), American baseball player *

Bertram Cunningham Bertram Keir Cunningham, (26 March 1871 – 10 September 1944), also known as B. K. Cunningham, was a British Anglican priest and academic. From 1919 to 1943, he was Principal of Westcott House, Cambridge, a Church of England theological college ...

, British Anglican priest and academic * Bill Cunningham (disambiguation), several people * Bill Cunningham (talk show host), American radio talk show host *

Billy Cunningham William John Cunningham (born June 3, 1943) is an American former professional basketball player and coach, who was nicknamed the ''Kangaroo Kid'' for his leaping and record-setting rebounding abilities. He spent a total of 17 seasons with the ...

, American basketball player and coach * Birgit Cunningham, Anglo-American activist * Bob Cunningham (disambiguation), several people *

Briggs Cunningham Briggs Swift Cunningham II (January 19, 1907 – July 2, 2003) was an American entrepreneur and sportsman. He is best known for skippering the yacht ''Columbia'' to victory in the 1958 America's Cup race, and for his efforts as a driver, team ow ...

, American racing driver and team owner, sports car designer and manufacturer *

Brysson Cunningham Dr Brysson Cunningham FRSE DSc MICE (1868-1950) was a Scottish civil engineer and author specialising in harbour and dock design and operation. In the early 20th century he was generally viewed as the authority in this field. Life Brysson Cunn ...

, Scottish harbour engineer and author on dock and harbour engineering and operation * Cade Cunningham (born 2001), American basketball player *

Cal Cunningham James Calvin "Cal" Cunningham III (born August 6, 1973) is an American lawyer, politician, and retired military officer. A member of the Democratic Party and a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve, he served one term as a North C ...

(born 1973), Democratic state senator in North Carolina * Charles Cunningham (disambiguation), several people, including: **

Charles Cunningham Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Cunningham KCH (1755 – 11 March 1834) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. He saw action during the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and N ...

, Royal Navy admiral ** Charles Milton Cunningham, American newspaper editor and politician * Chris Cunningham, British director and video artist *

Christian Cunningham Christian Cianan Cunningham (born November 21, 1997) is an American basketball player who last played for Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He plays the forward position. Biography Cunningham was born in El Paso, Texa ...

(born 1997), American basketball player in the

Israeli Basketball Premier League Ligat HaAl ( he, ליגת העל, lit., ''Supreme League or Premier League''), or the Israeli Basketball Premier League, is the top-tier level league of professional competition in Israeli club basketball, making it Israel's primary basketball ...

Clare Cunningham (athlete) Clare Cunningham ( ''née'' ''Bishop'' on born 15 June 1977) is a retired Paralympic swimmer and triathlete who represented Great Britain. She was born without her left forearm. Cunningham first swam in international competition at the age of 1 ...

, British athlete * Claire Cunningham, British choreographer * Colin Cunningham (swimmer), British swimmer

D–J

Daniel John Cunningham Daniel John Cunningham M.D., D.C.L., LL. D. F.R.S., F.R.S.E. F.R.A.I. (15 April 1850 – 23 July 1909) was a Scottish physician, zoologist, and anatomist, famous for ''Cunningham's Text-book of Anatomy'' and ''Cunningham's Manual of Pra ...

, Scottish anatomist * Darryl Cunningham, English cartoonist *Darren J. Cunningham, known professionally as

Actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lit ...

, British electronic music producer * David Cunningham (disambiguation), several people *

David Loren Cunningham David L. Cunningham, born in Switzerland (February 24, 1971) and raised in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, is an international filmmaker. Besides his documentary credits in more than 40 countries, Cunningham has also directed several feature films includin ...

, film producer * Dominick Cunningham (born 1995), British artistic gymnast * Ebenezer Cunningham, British mathematician * Edward Francis Cunningham, Scottish painter * Edwin Cunningham (disambiguation), several people * Elaine Cunningham, American fantasy and science-fiction author * Elmer T. Cunningham, American entrepreneur and businessman, specializing in vacuum tubes and radio manufacturing *E. V. Cunningham, pseudonym of

Howard Fast Howard Melvin Fast (November 11, 1914 – March 12, 2003) was an American novelist and television writer. Fast also wrote under the pen names E.V. Cunningham and Walter Ericson. Biography Early life Fast was born in New York City. His mother, ...

, an American writer * Francine Cunningham, Indigenous writer, artist, and educator *

Francis Cunningham (painter) Francis de Lancey Cunningham Jr. (born 1931) is an American figurative painter known for working across three genres – nude, landscape and still-life—and for being an influential teacher. He co-founded the New Brooklyn School of Life, Paintin ...

* Gary Cunningham (born 1940/1941), American basketball coach and athletic director * Glenn Cunningham (disambiguation), several people * Gordon Cunningham (golfer), Scottish golfer *

Graeme Cunningham (cricketer) Graeme Timothy Cunningham (born 25 January 1975) is a retired Australian cricketer who played predominantly for Tasmania. Cunningham was born at Goulburn, New South Wales in 1975. He was an effective middle order batsman. More a hard hitting s ...

, Australian cricketer * Graeme Cunningham (Scottish footballer), Scottish footballer * Harry Cunningham (disambiguation), several people * Hugh Cunningham (disambiguation), several people *

Imogen Cunningham Imogen Cunningham (; April 12, 1883 – June 23, 1976) was an American photographer known for her botanical photography, nudes, and industrial landscapes. Cunningham was a member of the California-based Group f/64, known for its dedication to t ...

(1883–1976), American photographer * J. V. Cunningham, American poet * Jack Cunningham (disambiguation), several people *

James Cunningham (disambiguation) James or Jim Cunningham may refer to: Politics * James Cunningham (Australian politician) (1879–1943), Australian politician and President of the Senate * Jim Cunningham (politician) (born 1941), Labour MP in the United Kingdom * James Cunnin ...

, several people *

Jason D. Cunningham The Battle of Takur Ghar was a short but intense military engagement between United States special operations forces and al-Qaeda insurgents fought in March 2002, atop Takur Ghar mountain in Afghanistan. For the U.S. side, the battle proved ...

, US Air Force pararescue medic * Jason Cunningham, English boxer * Jean Wooden Cunningham, American politician and lawyer *

Jeff Cunningham Jeff Cunningham (born August 21, 1976) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a forward. He is Major League Soccer's third-all-time leader in regular-season goals scored with 134. Youth and college Cunningham was born ...

, American association football player *

Jim Cunningham (disambiguation) James or Jim Cunningham may refer to: Politics * James Cunningham (Australian politician) (1879–1943), Australian politician and President of the Senate * Jim Cunningham (politician) (born 1941), Labour MP in the United Kingdom * James Cunningha ...

, several people *

John Cunningham (disambiguation) John or Johnny Cunningham may refer to: Military *John Cunningham (officer) (fl. 1689), Anglo-Irish soldier at the Siege of Derry *John Cunningham, 15th Earl of Glencairn (1749–1796), Scottish nobleman, cavalry officer, and priest *John Cunningh ...

or Johnny Cunningham, several people * Joseph Cunningham (disambiguation) or Joe Cunningham, several people

K–Z

Keiron Cunningham Keiron Cunningham (born 28 October 1976) is a professional rugby league coach and former player. A Great Britain and Wales international representative , he played his entire professional career at St Helens, making nearly 500 appearances for ...

, British rugby league player *

Kenny Cunningham Kenneth Edward Cunningham (born 28 June 1971) is an Irish former footballer who played as a defender. He played international football for the Republic of Ireland until his retirement in 2005. He spent his professional club career, from 1989 t ...

, Irish footballer *

Korey Cunningham Korey Cunningham (May 17, 1995 – April 25, 2024) was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) from 2018 to 2022. He played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats and w ...

, American football player * Kristan Cunningham, American interior designer and television personality *

Larry Cunningham Larry Cunningham (13 February 1938 – 28 September 2012) was an Irish country music singer, who was one of the leading figures of the showband scene in the 1960s and 1970s. Cunningham accomplished a series of "firsts" during his career. In 196 ...

(1938–2012), Irish country music singer *Larry Cunningham (1951–2019), American R&B singer, member of the vocal group

The Floaters The Floaters were an American R&B vocal group, from the Sojourner Truth housing projects in Detroit, Michigan, that formed in 1976. The group are best known for their 1977 song " Float On", which reached No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, No ...

* Laurie Cunningham, English former footballer * Leland Cunningham, American astronomer and electronic computing authority *

Liam Cunningham Liam Cunningham (born 2 June 1961) is an Irish actor. He is known for playing Davos Seaworth in the HBO epic-fantasy series ''Game of Thrones''. Cunningham has been nominated for the London Film Critics' Circle Award, the British Independen ...

, an Irish actor *

Loren Cunningham Loren Duane Cunningham (born June 30, 1935) is founder of the international Christian missionary movement Youth with a Mission (YWAM) and the University of the Nations. Cunningham founded YWAM in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1960 with his wife, Darl ...

, American-born missions statesman and founder of Youth With A Mission * Malik Cunningham (born 1998), American football player *

Marta Cunningham Marta Cunningham CBE (December 1869 – June 25, 1937) was an American-born European-based soprano. Born in 1869 in Brazos County, Texas, United States, her parents were Albert Baxter and Martha Minerva Tharp Cunningham, both from DeSoto Pari ...

(1869–1937), American-born European-based soprano-singer and philanthropist * Mary Ann Cunningham (1841-1930), Canadian temperance activist * Melvin Cunningham (born 1973), American football player *

Merce Cunningham Mercier Philip "Merce" Cunningham (April 16, 1919 – July 26, 2009) was an American dancer and choreographer who was at the forefront of American modern dance for more than 50 years. He frequently collaborated with artists of other discipl ...

(1919–2009), American choreographer *

Michael Cunningham Michael Cunningham (born November 6, 1952) is an American novelist and screenwriter. He is best known for his 1998 novel '' The Hours'', which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the PEN/Faulkner Award in 1999. Cunningham is a senior lectur ...

, American novelist, author of ''The Hours'' * Michael R. Cunningham, Chancellor National University System * Milton Joseph Cunningham, American politician * Minnie Fisher Cunningham, American suffrage politician * Myrna Cunningham, Miskita feminist and indigenous rights activist from Nicaragua * Owen Cunningham, Australian rugby league footballer * Patrick Cunningham (politician) (1878–1960), Irish politician *

Paul Cunningham (disambiguation) Paul Cunningham may refer to: *Paul Cunningham (chef) (born 1969), English chef working in Denmark *Paul Cunningham (footballer) (born 1986), New Zealand footballer *Paul Cunningham (journalist), Irish journalist and author *Paul Cunningham (ministe ...

, several people *

Phil Cunningham (folk musician) Philip Martin Cunningham, MBE (born 27 January 1960 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is a Scottish folk musician and composer. He is best known for playing the accordion with Silly Wizard, as well as in other bands and in duets with his brother, John ...

, Scottish accordionist with the folk group Silly Wizard * Phil Cunningham (rock musician), English musician * Randall Duke Cunningham, U.S. Representative from California * Randall Cunningham, American football player * Redmond Cunningham, Irish officer in the British Army * Richie Cunningham (American football) (born 1970), American football placekicker * Robert Cunningham (disambiguation), any of several people * Ross Cunningham, Scottish footballer * Samuel Cunningham (born 1989), Thai footballer *

Scott Cunningham Scott Douglas Cunningham (June 27, 1956 – March 28, 1993) was an American writer. Cunningham is the author of several books on Wicca and various other alternative religious subjects. His work ''Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner'' ...

, writer *

Sean S. Cunningham Sean Sexton Cunningham (born December 1941) is an American filmmaker, director, producer, and writer. He is best known for directing and producing several horror films, beginning in the early 1970s. Raised in Connecticut, Cunningham graduated fr ...

, film producer and director * Sederrik Cunningham, American football player * Sophie Cunningham (born 1963), Australian writer and editor * Sophie Cunningham (basketball) (born 1996), American basketball player * Stacey Cunningham, 67th President of the New York Stock Exchange * Sumner Archibald Cunningham (1843–1913), American Confederate veteran and newspaper editor *

Tony Cunningham (footballer) Anthony Eugene Cunningham (born 12 November 1957) is a Jamaican former professional footballer. Cunningham, a striker, began his professional career with Lincoln City in 1979. In three years with the Imps, he made 123 league appearances and ...

, Jamaican former footballer * Timothy J. Cunningham (1982–2018), American epidemiologist *

Walter Cunningham Ronnie Walter Cunningham (born March 16, 1932) is a retired American astronaut. In 1968, he was a lunar module pilot on the Apollo 7 mission. He was NASA's third civilian astronaut (after Neil Armstrong and Elliot See), and has also been a fig ...

(born 1932), American astronaut, Apollo 7 crew member * Walterina Cunningham (died 1837), Scottish author and poet *

Wade Cunningham Wade Grant Cunningham (born 19 August 1984) is a racing driver from Auckland, New Zealand who competed in the Firestone Indy Lights Series. Racing career Indy Lights Cunningham's professional career began when he won the Karting World Champio ...

, New Zealand racing driver * Ward Cunningham, American computer programmer, developer of the first wiki * William Cunningham (disambiguation), several people * Zach Cunningham (born 1994), American football player

Notable fictional characters sharing this surname

Max Cunningham Max Cunningham is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Ben Sherrif from 1995 to 1997, and Matt Littler from 1997 to 2008. He first appeared on 6 November 1995, and Littler took over the role in Septe ...

, character from ''Hollyoaks'' * Tom Cunningham, also a character from ''Hollyoaks'' * The Cunningham family from ''Happy Days'': ** Howard Cunningham, father ** Marion Cunningham, mother **

Richie Cunningham Richard J. Cunningham is a fictional character played by Ron Howard in the 1970s TV sitcom ''Happy Days''. He is the second son of Howard and Marion Cunningham, brother of Joanie Cunningham and Chuck Cunningham, and a friend of Fonzie, Ralph ...

, second son and also the series' original lead character ** Joanie Cunningham, younger daughter * The Cunningham family in ''

To Kill a Mockingbird ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' is a novel by the American author Harper Lee. It was published in 1960 and was instantly successful. In the United States, it is widely read in high schools and middle schools. ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' has become ...

'' by Harper Lee * Mr and Alec Cunningham in the Sherlock Holmes story " The Adventure of the Reigate Squire"

Other uses of the Cunningham name

* Cunningham automobile * Cunningham-Hall Aircraft Corporation (1928–1948), aircraft manufacturer in Rochester, New York * James Cunningham, Son and Company (1882–1936), carriage and auto company in Rochester, New York {{surname, Cunningham Scottish toponymic surnames Surnames of Lowland Scottish origin English-language surnames