Cunningham is a surname of Scottish origin, see Clan Cunningham.
Notable people with the family name include:
- Aaron Cunningham, American baseball player
- Abe Cunningham, American drummer
- Alan Cunningham, British World War II general
- Alexander Cunningham (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 (died 1574), a Scottish nobleman and covenanter
- Alfred Austell Cunningham, aviation pioneer
- Allan Cunningham (disambiguation) or Allen Cunningham, several people
- Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, British World War II admiral
- Andrew Cunningham (disambiguation) or Andy Cunningham, several people
- Bill Cunningham, American radio talk show host
- Billy Cunningham, American basketball player and coach
- Bob Cunningham (disambiguation), multiple people
- Briggs Cunningham, American racing driver and team owner, sports car designer and manufacturer
- Cal Cunningham, full name James Calvin Cunningham, III, (born 1973), Democratic state senator in North Carolina
- Charles Cunningham, Royal Navy admiral
- Chris Cunningham, British director and video artist
- Colin Cunningham (swimmer), British swimmer
- David Cunningham, several people
- Ebenezer Cunningham, British mathematician
- Edward Francis Cunningham, Scottish painter
- Elaine Cunningham, American fantasy and science-fiction author
- E. V. Cunningham, pseudonym of Howard Fast, an American writer
- Glenn Cunningham (disambiguation), several people
- Imogen Cunningham, American photographer
- J. V. Cunningham, American poet
- Jack Cunningham, British politician
- James Cunningham (industrialist), manufacturer of carriages Rochester, N.Y. (+ 1886)
- James Cunningham (director), New Zealand film director
- James Cunningham, 7th Earl of Glencairn, Scottish peer and member of the Privy Council of Scotland
- James Cunningham, 14th Earl of Glencairn, Scottish nobleman
- James Cunningham (British Columbia politician) (1834–1925), former member of the Canadian House of Commons from British Columbia
- James B. Cunningham, American diplomat, formerly the acting US ambassador to the UN
- James Cunningham (Australian politician), Australian politician and President of the Senate
- Jason D. Cunningham, USAF pararescue medic
- Jeff Cunningham, American football player, currently competing for FC Dallas
- Jim Cunningham (UK politician) (born 1941), Labour MP in the United Kingdom
- Jim Cunningham (ice hockey) (born 1956), ice hockey player in the National Hockey League
- Jim Cunningham (American football), former NFL running back for the Washington Redskins
- Jimmy Cunningham, former return specialist and wide receiver in the Canadian Football League and the XFL
- John Cunningham (English VC), East Yorkshire Regiment
- John Cunningham (Irish VC), Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment
- John Cunningham (RAF officer), Group Captain, RAF Night Fighter Ace
- John Cunningham (Royal Navy officer), British Wold War II admiral; First Sea Lord
- John W. Cunningham, author of Western novels and stories
- Johnny Cunningham, (1957–2003) Scottish folk musician
- Joseph Cunningham (industrialist), manufacturer of carriages and automobile pioneer, Rochester, N.Y.
- Keiron Cunningham, British rugby league player
- Kenny Cunningham, Irish footballer
- Kristan Cunningham, American interior designer and television personality
- Laurie Cunningham, English former footballer
- Leland Cunningham, American astronomer and electronic computing authority
- Merce Cunningham (1919–2009), American choreographer
- Michael Cunningham, award-winning American novelist, author of The Hours
- Michael A. Cunningham, Bagpiper, a member of Kyilindi Pipes & Drums
- Owen Cunningham, Australian rugby league footballer
- Patrick Cunningham (1878–1960), Irish politician
- Phil Cunningham (folk musician), Scottish accordionist with the folk group Silly Wizard
- Phil Cunningham (rock musician), English musician
- Randy Duke Cunningham, U.S. Representative from California
- Randall Cunningham, American football player
- Redmond Cunningham Irish Royal Engineer awarded Military cross on D-Day
- Robert Cunningham (disambiguation), any of several people
- Scott Cunningham, writer
- Tony Cunningham (footballer), Jamaican former footballer
- Tom Cunningham, American Photographer
- Walter Cunningham, astronaut
- Wade Cunningham, New Zealand racing driver
- Ward Cunningham, founder of the first wiki
- William Cunningham, 4th Earl of Glencairn (c. 1490–1547), Scottish nobleman and intriguer
Famous quotes containing the word cunningham:
“Like an old brandy after a long rain,
Distinguished, and familiar, and aloof.”
—James Vincent Cunningham (19111985)
“While the hollow oak our palace is,
Our heritage the sea.”
—Allan Cunningham (17841842)
“A wet sheet and a flowing sea,
A wind that follows fast
And fills the white and rustling sail
And bends the gallant mast;”
—Allan Cunningham (17841842)