NameCensus.

UK surname

Cliffe

A topographic surname derived from the Old English "clif" meaning a cliff or slope.

In the 1881 census there were 1,880 people recorded with the Cliffe surname, ranking it #2,320 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,475, ranked #2,665, down from #2,320 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Astbury and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Peterborough and Lichfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cliffe is 2,673 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.6%.

1881 census count

1,880

Ranked #2,320

Modern count

2,475

2016, ranked #2,665

Peak year

1998

2,673 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cliffe had 1,880 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,320 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,475 in 2016, ranked #2,665.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,660 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Cliffe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cliffe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cliffe 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 1,010 #2,763
1861 historical 1,242 #2,298
1881 historical 1,880 #2,320
1891 historical 2,306 #2,034
1901 historical 2,660 #2,077
1911 historical 2,585 #1,978
1997 modern 2,432 #2,588
1998 modern 2,673 #2,469
1999 modern 2,635 #2,507
2000 modern 2,588 #2,532
2001 modern 2,521 #2,541
2002 modern 2,554 #2,565
2003 modern 2,476 #2,586
2004 modern 2,475 #2,590
2005 modern 2,424 #2,609
2006 modern 2,427 #2,606
2007 modern 2,457 #2,604
2008 modern 2,494 #2,585
2009 modern 2,518 #2,628
2010 modern 2,562 #2,642
2011 modern 2,564 #2,611
2012 modern 2,507 #2,615
2013 modern 2,537 #2,633
2014 modern 2,511 #2,671
2015 modern 2,495 #2,659
2016 modern 2,475 #2,665

Geography

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Where Cliffes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Astbury, Manchester, Blackburn and Huddersfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Peterborough, Lichfield and Doncaster. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Astbury Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 051 Cheshire East
2 Cheshire East 049 Cheshire East
3 Peterborough 007 Peterborough
4 Lichfield 003 Lichfield
5 Doncaster 015 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cliffe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cliffe

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cliffe, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Cliffe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Cliffe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Cliffe is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Cliffe is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cliffe falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cliffe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cliffe

The surname Cliffe has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname derived from the Old English word "clif," meaning a cliff or steep slope. This suggests that the name originated from people who lived near or on a cliff, likely in an area with a significant geographical feature such as a hillside or rocky outcrop.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cliffe can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions several places with the name Cliffe, including Cliffe in Kent, Cliffe in Yorkshire, and Cliffe Pypard in Wiltshire.

In the 13th century, records show a William de Cliffe from Yorkshire, indicating the name's association with the area. Another notable early bearer of the name was Sir Robert Cliffe, a member of the English gentry from Yorkshire, who lived in the late 14th century.

During the 16th century, the name Cliffe appeared in various spellings, such as Clyffe, Clyf, and Clife, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common in that era. One notable individual from this period was John Cliffe, a Protestant reformer and martyr who was burned at the stake in 1555 during the reign of Queen Mary I.

In the 17th century, the Cliffe family had a significant presence in Yorkshire, with several members holding positions of prominence. One such individual was Sir William Cliffe, a Member of Parliament and landowner in Yorkshire, who lived from 1595 to 1675.

Moving into the 18th century, the surname Cliffe continued to be associated with Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. One notable figure was Edward Cliffe, an English painter and engraver born in 1725, known for his landscapes and portraits.

The 19th century saw the name Cliffe spread more widely across England and beyond. One prominent figure was John Cliffe, a British explorer and naturalist born in 1837, who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in South America.

Throughout its history, the surname Cliffe has been associated with various locations, particularly in Yorkshire and the surrounding regions, reflecting its origins as a locational name derived from the Old English word for a cliff or steep slope.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cliffe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cliffe 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. Yorkshire leads with 638 Cliffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.51x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 638 3.51x
Lancashire 436 2.00x
Cheshire 322 7.95x
Staffordshire 161 2.60x
Middlesex 69 0.38x
Northamptonshire 45 2.61x
Rutland 41 30.45x
Nottinghamshire 30 1.21x
Lincolnshire 24 0.82x
Warwickshire 15 0.32x
Durham 14 0.26x
Derbyshire 13 0.45x
Gloucestershire 12 0.33x
Shropshire 8 0.50x
Worcestershire 8 0.33x
Flintshire 6 1.22x
Huntingdonshire 5 1.37x
Kent 5 0.08x
Midlothian 5 0.20x
Denbighshire 4 0.58x
Essex 4 0.11x
Hampshire 3 0.08x
Somerset 3 0.10x
Herefordshire 2 0.27x
Wiltshire 2 0.12x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.09x
Cornwall 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.46x
Surrey 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Huddersfield in Yorkshire leads with 137 Cliffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.75x.

Place Total Index
Huddersfield 137 51.75x
Congleton 54 77.20x
Blackburn 52 8.98x
Hipperholme Cum 44 55.10x
Lower Bebington 34 141.37x
Peterborough 33 26.42x
Stoke Upon Trent 33 5.03x
Wolstanton 31 16.49x
Burslem 27 15.23x
Ketton 24 342.37x
Lockwood 24 36.71x
Kirkheaton 23 78.05x
Sutton 22 30.15x
Everton 20 2.88x
Dalton In Huddersfield 19 46.67x
Oldham 19 2.71x
Pendleton In Salford 19 7.33x
Salford 19 2.97x
Hulme 18 3.96x
Brightside Bierlow 17 4.77x
Leyland 17 44.90x
Bradford 16 3.64x
Ecclesall Bierlow 16 4.33x
Chorley 15 12.28x
Doncaster 15 11.30x
Kermincham 15 1304.35x
Manchester 15 1.53x
Ashton Under Lyne 14 2.94x
Dewsbury 14 7.51x
Chester St Oswald 13 17.74x
Latchford 13 48.35x
Moss Side 13 11.35x
Rastrick 13 25.75x
Barrow In Furness 12 4.05x
Dutton 12 422.54x
Linthwaite 12 31.42x
Northowram 12 9.42x
Warrington 12 4.65x
Wavertree 12 17.23x
Aston 11 0.86x
Halifax 11 4.12x
Liverpool 11 0.83x
Runcorn 11 11.78x
Swinton In Rotherham 11 22.89x
Toxteth Park 11 1.49x
Ecclesfield 10 7.50x
Heckmondwike 10 17.11x
Heeley 10 18.11x
Higher Bebington 10 38.60x
Holbeck 10 8.31x
Hunslet 10 3.53x
Mottram St Andrew 10 436.68x
West Derby 10 1.57x
Acton 9 8.37x
Bowling 9 5.00x
Bromley London 9 2.23x
Broughton In Salford 9 4.52x
Lower Whitley 9 666.67x
Newcastle Under Lyme 9 8.22x
Over Whitley 9 468.75x
Peover Superior 9 234.99x
Sculcoates 9 3.12x
St Nicholas Lincoln 9 32.11x
Widnes 9 5.73x
Altrincham 8 11.31x
Cheetham 8 4.93x
Chester St Bridget 8 115.44x
Chiswick 8 7.98x
Horton In Bradford 8 2.82x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 8 12.32x
Wheelton 8 82.14x
Brereton Cum Smethwick 7 181.82x
Bulwell 7 13.03x
Bunbury 7 126.13x
Elland Cum Greetland 7 8.55x
Golcar 7 14.57x
Haresfield 7 194.99x
Mexborough 7 19.41x
Preston 7 1.20x
Wakefield 7 5.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 110
John 107
James 62
Thomas 57
George 50
Joseph 44
Charles 33
Henry 31
Arthur 23
Alfred 22
Samuel 22
Albert 16
Edward 16
Frederick 15
Harry 15
Richard 13
Frank 12
Herbert 12
Robert 12
Fred 11
Peter 11
Walter 11
Tom 8
Edgar 7
David 6
Isaac 6
Joe 6
Sam 6
Chas. 5
Ernest 5
Thos. 5
Abraham 4
Adam 4
Benjamin 4
Francis 4
Frederic 4
Willie 4
Christopher 3
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Jacob 3
Wm. 3
Charlie 2
Jim 2
Joah 2
Levi 2
Matthew 2
Percy 2
Ralph 2
Rowland 2

FAQ

Cliffe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cliffe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,880 people were recorded with the Cliffe surname. That placed it at #2,320 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cliffe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,475 in 2016. That gives Cliffe a modern rank of #2,665.

What does the Cliffe surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from the Old English "clif" meaning a cliff or slope.

What does the Cliffe map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cliffe 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.