Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Cutnelai 1086 DB

• Conanlia 1155–87 YChvii

• Conynley 1362 YDx

• Conunlay 1397 Bodl226

• Cononlay 1454,1462 YDix 1538 FF 1638 SessnR

• Connonley 1586 FF 1615 PRSk

• Conendeley 1171–81,1175–84 YChvii

• Conondlay, Conondley 1405 YI 1540 MinAcct 1787 PRBl

• Conundley 1413 YI

• Cuneteleia 1191 P

• Cunetlay 1246 Ass 11 (p), FF

• Conotlay 1254 YI

• Conethelegh 1277 Cl

• Cunedlay 13 YDix

• Conedley 1287,1295 BltComp8,27

• Conedelay 1305 YDix

• Cuniglay(e) 1254 YI 1273 Ebor

• Coningley, Coninglay, Conynglay 1303 KF 1433

• Condeley 1285 KI

• Comdlay 1285 YI

• Coundley 1551 WillY

• Cuneld 1314 Pat

• Cun(n)andley 1632,1634 PRKld

• Cunanlay 1642 PRKy

Etymology

It is difficult to say which of the spellings represents the original form of the name though some of them like Condeley are contracted forms and Coningley , etc. (with Coning - from ON  konungr 'king' as in local p.ns. like Coniston 45, 85infra ) are a later rationalising of an unintelligible element. Ekwall is inclined to take the series Cunet -, Cuned - as original and associates it with the Brit  *cunētjū which is found in old r.ns. like Kennet Brk or Cound Sa; the meaning of this word is unknown (cf. EPN i, 120, s.v. *cuno-), and it leaves the Conan -, Conende - series unexplained (unless again they are attempts to make sense of an obscure theme). This Conan -, Conende - series would appear to represent the OIr  pers.n. Conán , (cognate with Welsh  Cynan , Breton Conan ), with Conand - having an intrusive -d - which develops in similar consonant combinations in OE  in words like ændlefan for ænlefan 'eleven' (cf. Bülbring § 535, Jordan § 202); this pers.n. occurs as Cunen in the later additions to LVD and survives in the name of Conande Raisbecke of Marske YN (1550 WillY 140). The Cuned -, Cunde - spellings would be contractions of this, but again it is difficult to account for Cunete -. The choice between an old British r.n. and this OIr pers.n. must remain undetermined, though the pers.n. has much to be said in its favour.