in Ayrshire, Scotland
Cunninghame (Cuninghame/Coneyghame/Cuineagham) is the northern division of Ayrshire. The lands of the Lordship & Barony of Kilmarnock all lie within this area.From reliable historical sources the overlords of Ayrshire in the twelfth century were the de Morville family who settled there under the patronage of King Malcolm (Canmore). Hugo de Morville was Constable of Scotland.
From the best authorities, King Malcolm favoured Warnebald (forget surnames; a Danish cognomen) with land, including the Barony of Kilmaurs in Cunninghame.
The origin of the place-name Cunninghame is uncertain. On the armorials shown above the supporters are coneys but they are probably arms canting on the Coneyghame name variation. The 'milk-pail country' of Cuineagham is another possibility.
Warnebald's descendants were recorded as 'de Cunyghame' (the area gave the name to the family) and he was succeeded by Robert de Cunninghame de Kilmaurs. He was succeeded by Robert (filius Roberti filii Warnebaldi), who later became one of fifteen hostages to the English king for William the Lyon. His son, also named Robert, was succeeded by Hervey - who distinguished himself at the Battle of Largs (in Ayrshire) against the Vikings in 1263.
In The Scots Peerage (Douglas, 1907) we read Alexander III granted to Hervey Cunyghame the whole Barony of Kilmaurs.
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