My cousin Randy Cunico visited Comune di Cunico during the days following our 2006 Cunico Reunion in Asiago.

RANDY'S DIALOGUE

Cunico is on a hilltop like so many of the villages around there. As I think Alessandro described in the past, it was very medieval looking. We found the Municipio building; it really wasn’t too difficult as you will see in the picture. When we went into the office, the secretary immediately understood what we wanted when I pointed to myself and said “Cunico”. She went into the back room and came back with the mayor, Piero Cognasso. He couldn’t have been nicer. He spoke English though he struggled with it. We could understand him and he could understand us. He told us he learned English in as a school child and practiced it to the Beatles. He gave us tour of the Municipio building, including the council room with the Cunico crest and banner and the archives room where he showed us a copy of the original records book with entries for every marriage and death, land transactions, debts, law decrees, etc. He said the book was very difficult to understand because it was in an older dialect that may have been a combination of Italian, Latin and possibly German (Cimbri?).

As I understand it, Cunico was originally a horse exchange on the Roman road from Asti to Turin. After the Germans conquered the area around 1100 AD, a German soldier named Kun (sp?) settled here. The place eventually became known as Kuningo (sp?), meaning land of Kun (sp?). Apparently, this evolved into Cuningo, then Cunico. A castle was built here for Lord Cunico. The male members of the family were all killed during a war between (????) in 1349(?) and the castle destroyed. Stones from the castle were used for the church and they have a cornerstone from the castle on display near the church.

THE CUNICO COGNOME IN COMUNE DI CUNICO

Randy goes on to say, the interesting thing about the Comune di Cunico is that it appears that the Cunico name may have evolved in a location independent from Asiago. Although this branch of Cunico’s apparently was exterminated, it makes me wonder if Asiago is in fact the only source of Cunico’s today; I’m sorry for the speculation Barth.
 

MY INTERPRETATION

In further conversations with Piero, it is my understanding that the family was referred to as CUNICO only because they resided in the municipality of CUNICO. I don't believe CUNICO was the family's actual cognome.

 Driving Instructions
 

FROM TURIN   (about 54 km.)

To follow state road (SS10) as far as CHIERI. Reached CHIERI to turn left (SS119) to NADEZZENO, MORIONDO. Reached CASTELNOUVO DON BOSCO to continue towards GALLARETO (SP17). Reached GALLARETO to turn right in the direction of ASTI (SS458). Reached PIEA to turn left at the CUNICO junction.

FROM CHIVASSO   (about 31 km.)

To follow state road (SS590) as far as SAN SEBASTIANO PO. Therre to turn right in the direction of CASALBORGONE, ASTI (SS458). Reached PIEA to turn left at the CUNICO junction.

FROM ASTI (via Sessant)   (about 24 km.)

To follow state road (SS458) in the direction of CHIVASSO. You must go beyond SESSANT, SERRAVALLE, MERIDIANA, CORTANZE. Reached PIEA to turn right at the CUNICO junction.

FROM ASTI (via Castel Alfero)   (about 21 km.)

To follow state road (SS457) in the direction of CASALE. You must go beyond PORTA COMARO STAZIONE and to continue till CASTEL ALFERO. There You must to turn left in the direction of MONTIGLIO, CHIVASSO (SP22). After MONTECHIARO you must to turn left in the (SP22) direction of MONTIGLIO, (don't take the right side SP22c). Reached CUNICO STAZIONE you must to turn right.

FROM CASALE MONFERRATO

To follow state road (SS457) in the direction of ASTI. Go beyond OZZANO MONFERRATO, reached ASTI- CASTAGNONE junction, you must turn left in the direction of ASTI. Reached CALLIANO you must to turn right in the direction of ASTI. Reached CASTEL ALFERO turn right in the direction (SP22) of ONTIGLIO, CHIVASSO. After MONTECHIARO you must to turn left in the (SP22) direction of MONTIGLIO, (don't take the right side SP22c). Reached CUNICO STAZIONE you must to turn right.

FROM MILANO