NameCensus.

UK surname

Barrowcliff

A place surname referring to someone who lived near a hill or cliff with an ancient burial mound.

In the 1881 census there were 160 people recorded with the Barrowcliff surname, ranking it #14,860 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 142, ranked #24,625, down from #14,860 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stapleford, Normanton-on-Soar and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Kesteven, Ashfield and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barrowcliff is 198 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.3%.

1881 census count

160

Ranked #14,860

Modern count

142

2016, ranked #24,625

Peak year

1861

198 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barrowcliff had 160 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,860 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016, ranked #24,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 198 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Barrowcliff surname distribution map

The map shows where the Barrowcliff surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Barrowcliff surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barrowcliff over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 179 #11,346
1861 historical 198 #12,114
1881 historical 160 #14,860
1891 historical 141 #19,108
1901 historical 131 #19,552
1911 historical 176 #16,185
1997 modern 144 #21,660
1998 modern 144 #22,221
1999 modern 152 #21,636
2000 modern 150 #21,781
2001 modern 148 #21,664
2002 modern 147 #22,197
2003 modern 142 #22,460
2004 modern 146 #22,202
2005 modern 145 #22,253
2006 modern 153 #21,643
2007 modern 150 #22,212
2008 modern 159 #21,598
2009 modern 162 #21,791
2010 modern 157 #22,800
2011 modern 153 #22,996
2012 modern 158 #22,460
2013 modern 149 #23,765
2014 modern 150 #23,864
2015 modern 148 #23,934
2016 modern 142 #24,625

Geography

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Where Barrowcliffs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stapleford, Normanton-on-Soar, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Gringley-on-the-Hill and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Kesteven, Ashfield, North Lincolnshire, Newark and Sherwood and Preston. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Stapleford Derbyshire
2 Normanton-on-Soar Leicestershire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Gringley-on-the-Hill Nottinghamshire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Kesteven 005 South Kesteven
2 Ashfield 001 Ashfield
3 North Lincolnshire 021 North Lincolnshire
4 Newark and Sherwood 006 Newark and Sherwood
5 Preston 008 Preston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barrowcliff

These lists show first names that appear often with the Barrowcliff surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barrowcliff

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Barrowcliff, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Barrowcliff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Barrowcliff household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Barrowcliff is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Barrowcliff is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Barrowcliff falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barrowcliff is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Barrowcliff, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Barrowcliff

The surname BARROWCLIFF originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from a place name meaning "The barrow cliff" or "The cliff by the burial mound." The name likely refers to someone who lived near a prominent cliff or hill where ancient burial mounds were located.

The earliest recorded instances of the BARROWCLIFF surname appear in records from Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in the 13th and 14th centuries. Variations in the spelling include Barocliffe, Barocliff, Baroclough, and Barroclough. These regional variations reflect the different dialects and accents found across northern England at the time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the BARROWCLIFF name was John de Barocliff, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1317. Another early record is of William Baroclough, whose name appears in the Poll Tax Returns for the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1379.

In the 16th century, the BARROWCLIFF surname can be found in the Parish Records of Lincolnshire, where a Richard Barrowcliff was recorded as being baptized in Grimsby in 1582. Around the same time, a John Barrowcliff was noted in the Parish Records of Kirkheaton, Yorkshire, with the birth of his son William in 1598.

Notable individuals with the BARROWCLIFF surname include William Barrowcliff (1615-1679), an English clergyman who served as the Vicar of Leeds from 1659 until his death. Another prominent figure was Thomas Barrowcliff (1720-1788), a successful merchant and landowner in Yorkshire who left a substantial estate upon his passing.

In the 19th century, Joseph Barrowcliff (1817-1891) was a respected industrialist and philanthropist from Bradford, Yorkshire, who made significant contributions to the local community. Meanwhile, Mary Barrowcliff (1845-1927) was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights, founding several schools for girls in the north of England.

The BARROWCLIFF name has a rich history stretching back centuries, with its origins rooted in the distinctive landscapes and dialects of northern England. While the surname may have evolved in its spelling over time, it remains a testament to the enduring legacy of those who bore it throughout the ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barrowcliff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barrowcliff surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Nottinghamshire leads with 82 Barrowcliffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.22x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 82 39.22x
Lincolnshire 36 14.52x
Yorkshire 13 0.85x
Derbyshire 12 4.94x
Middlesex 5 0.32x
Leicestershire 4 2.33x
Bedfordshire 3 3.74x
Cheshire 1 0.29x
Durham 1 0.22x
Kent 1 0.19x
Surrey 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stapleford in Nottinghamshire leads with 19 Barrowcliffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1117.65x.

Place Total Index
Stapleford 19 1117.65x
Nottingham St Mary 10 18.49x
Gringley On Hill 9 2045.45x
Woodborough 9 1914.89x
Worksop 9 145.16x
Amber Hill 6 2857.14x
Doddington 6 7500.00x
Haxey 6 571.43x
Normanton On Soar 6 3529.41x
Radford 6 56.50x
Snenton 6 73.08x
Derby St Alkmund 5 68.68x
Gainsborough 5 85.47x
Normanton 5 108.23x
Blidworth Haywood 4 1818.18x
Bolsover 4 327.87x
Broughton 4 579.71x
Heeley 4 85.65x
Moulton 4 336.13x
Somerby In Grantham 4 634.92x
Bedford St Mary 3 144.93x
Leicester St Margaret 3 7.15x
Ordsall 3 187.50x
St Luke London 3 12.06x
Bawtry 2 416.67x
Chelsea London 2 4.28x
Derby All Sts 2 98.52x
Belper 1 21.23x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 3.20x
Kingsnorth 1 312.50x
Lenton 1 20.33x
Quorndon 1 103.09x
Romiley 1 103.09x
Saxelby With Ingleby 1 158.73x
Sculcoates 1 4.10x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.20x
Stockton On Tees 1 4.50x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Barrowcliff surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Barrowcliff surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 9
George 7
Joseph 6
William 6
Frederick 4
Henry 4
James 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Thomas 3
Chas. 2
Edward 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Amos 1
Edwd.Chas. 1
Ernest 1
Hermon 1
Jacob 1
Saml.Edwd. 1
Tom 1
Willie 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Barrowcliff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barrowcliff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 160 people were recorded with the Barrowcliff surname. That placed it at #14,860 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barrowcliff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016. That gives Barrowcliff a modern rank of #24,625.

What does the Barrowcliff surname mean?

A place surname referring to someone who lived near a hill or cliff with an ancient burial mound.

What does the Barrowcliff map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Barrowcliff bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.