NameCensus.

UK surname

Clift

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a cliff or steep slope.

In the 1881 census there were 1,622 people recorded with the Clift surname, ranking it #2,633 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,378, ranked #2,759, down from #2,633 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Rowley Regis. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lichfield, Dudley and Parkhead East and Braidfauld North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clift is 2,562 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.6%.

1881 census count

1,622

Ranked #2,633

Modern count

2,378

2016, ranked #2,759

Peak year

1999

2,562 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clift had 1,622 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,633 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,378 in 2016, ranked #2,759.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,263 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Clift surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Clift surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clift 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 1,203 #2,369
1861 historical 949 #2,923
1881 historical 1,622 #2,633
1891 historical 1,613 #2,768
1901 historical 2,193 #2,462
1911 historical 2,263 #2,234
1997 modern 2,486 #2,522
1998 modern 2,517 #2,594
1999 modern 2,562 #2,569
2000 modern 2,539 #2,576
2001 modern 2,508 #2,557
2002 modern 2,516 #2,603
2003 modern 2,453 #2,605
2004 modern 2,461 #2,606
2005 modern 2,369 #2,654
2006 modern 2,335 #2,695
2007 modern 2,345 #2,709
2008 modern 2,353 #2,720
2009 modern 2,425 #2,708
2010 modern 2,443 #2,743
2011 modern 2,430 #2,732
2012 modern 2,394 #2,718
2013 modern 2,400 #2,755
2014 modern 2,414 #2,752
2015 modern 2,373 #2,768
2016 modern 2,378 #2,759

Geography

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Where Clifts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Rowley Regis and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lichfield, Dudley, Parkhead East and Braidfauld North and Sandwell. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lichfield 006 Lichfield
2 Dudley 020 Dudley
3 Parkhead East and Braidfauld North Glasgow City
4 Dudley 039 Dudley
5 Sandwell 035 Sandwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clift

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clift

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Clift surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Clift 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Clift 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

Clift is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clift falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clift is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Clift

The surname Clift is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "clif," meaning a steep rock, cliff, or slope. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify individuals who lived near or worked in areas with such geographical features.

During the 11th century, the name Clift appeared in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This early reference provides evidence of the surname's existence and usage in Anglo-Norman England.

In the 13th century, the name Clift was found in various spellings, such as Clyft, Clyffe, and Clyve, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during the Middle Ages. These variations often stemmed from regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the names.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Clift dates back to 1273, when a John Clyft was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire. This document was a census-like survey conducted by King Edward I to assess the wealth and landholdings of his subjects.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Clift. One such figure was Sir Robert Clift (1592-1658), an English politician and landowner who served as a member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I.

Another prominent bearer of the name was William Clift (1775-1849), an English anatomist and curator at the Hunterian Museum in London. He made significant contributions to the study of comparative anatomy and paleontology.

In the literary world, the name is associated with the acclaimed American actor Montgomery Clift (1920-1966), whose performances in films like "A Place in the Sun" and "From Here to Eternity" earned him critical acclaim.

The surname Clift has also been carried by individuals from various fields, such as John Clift (1761-1840), an English painter known for his landscapes and portraits, and Edward Clift (1923-1986), a British film director and screenwriter best known for his work on the film "A Clockwork Orange."

While the surname Clift may have originated from humble beginnings, referring to those who lived near cliffs or steep slopes, it has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions to various aspects of society throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clift families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clift 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. Middlesex leads with 196 Clifts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.23x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 196 1.23x
Staffordshire 138 2.56x
Worcestershire 137 6.57x
Cornwall 136 7.52x
Gloucestershire 98 3.13x
Essex 88 2.79x
Kent 84 1.54x
Hampshire 80 2.44x
Lincolnshire 72 2.82x
Lancashire 61 0.32x
Surrey 59 0.76x
Devon 57 1.71x
Shropshire 47 3.40x
Warwickshire 43 1.07x
Wiltshire 40 2.83x
Berkshire 35 2.92x
Durham 35 0.74x
Somerset 27 1.05x
Suffolk 21 1.08x
Yorkshire 21 0.13x
Glamorgan 18 0.65x
Hertfordshire 17 1.54x
Cambridgeshire 14 1.38x
Norfolk 14 0.57x
Channel Islands 13 2.75x
Angus 10 0.68x
Sussex 10 0.37x
Herefordshire 8 1.22x
Caernarfonshire 7 1.08x
Dorset 7 0.67x
Leicestershire 7 0.40x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.62x
Monmouthshire 6 0.52x
Oxfordshire 5 0.51x
Derbyshire 4 0.16x
Midlothian 4 0.19x
Cumberland 3 0.22x
Flintshire 2 0.47x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.55x
Royal Navy 2 1.05x
Cardiganshire 1 0.26x
Cheshire 1 0.03x
Isle of Man 1 0.34x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chatham in Kent leads with 40 Clifts recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.67x.

Place Total Index
Chatham 40 26.67x
Rowley Regis 37 24.62x
Willenhall 35 34.65x
Birmingham 29 2.16x
Oldbury 27 26.30x
Trowbridge 26 41.63x
Hogsthorpe 24 607.59x
Islington London 24 1.55x
Shrewsbury St Mary 23 42.23x
Cheltenham 20 8.27x
Falmouth 18 28.11x
The Hill 18 134.33x
Warley Wigorn 18 270.68x
Gradley 17 168.65x
Mildenhall 16 77.37x
Stroud 16 26.24x
Westminster St James 16 9.74x
Bramley 15 609.76x
St Pancras London 15 1.17x
Stoke Damerel 15 6.44x
West Derby 15 2.70x
St Clement 14 74.15x
Chelmsford 13 24.02x
Halstead 13 35.34x
Kenwyn 13 27.48x
Reading St Giles 13 11.05x
Sedgley 13 6.49x
Shoreditch London 13 1.88x
St Marylebone London 13 1.52x
Bethnal Green London 12 1.73x
Camborne 12 16.10x
Halesowen 12 65.50x
St George Hanover Square 12 4.26x
Toxteth Park 12 1.87x
Wednesbury 12 8.90x
Clerkenwell London 11 2.92x
Croydon 11 2.55x
Dover St James 11 46.04x
Millbrook 11 13.33x
Mylor 11 90.76x
Paul 11 33.47x
Aston 10 0.90x
Great Waltham 10 77.82x
Haxey 10 92.17x
Jacobstow 10 427.35x
Pelton 10 44.21x
Bengeo 9 70.42x
Brechin 9 15.47x
Brixham 9 23.35x
Gateshead 9 2.53x
Hackney London 9 1.00x
Hungerford 9 55.49x
Lewisham 9 3.10x
Marhamchurch 9 306.12x
St George Martyr London 9 27.81x
Atherton 8 11.59x
Codsall 8 104.30x
Dawley 8 15.93x
Freshford 8 360.36x
Grouville 8 60.65x
Hampstead London 8 3.21x
Leckhampton 8 41.43x
Minchinhampton 8 32.04x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 3.12x
Reigate Foreign 8 9.49x
Springfield 8 57.89x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 8 22.27x
Westoe 8 2.97x
Alford 7 44.22x
Burntwood Edial 7 20.32x
Conway 7 55.96x
Hammersmith London 7 1.78x
Hartley Wintney 7 71.07x
Hilperton 7 155.56x
Isleworth 7 9.85x
Littleport 7 36.21x
Roath 7 5.54x
West Ham 7 1.01x
Worcester Blockhouse 7 61.08x
Erith 6 11.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 102
Sarah 62
Elizabeth 49
Emma 36
Ann 32
Jane 29
Alice 26
Eliza 25
Annie 21
Emily 21
Ellen 17
Martha 16
Harriet 15
Louisa 15
Florence 14
Hannah 13
Ada 11
Caroline 10
Charlotte 10
Fanny 10
Maria 9
Agnes 8
Susan 8
Edith 7
Elizth. 7
Anne 6
Clara 6
Eleanor 6
Kate 6
Rose 6
Anna 5
Esther 5
Frances 5
Harriett 5
Jessie 5
Lucy 5
Margaret 5
Matilda 5
Rebecca 5
Amelia 4
Bessie 4
Laura 4
Lilly 4
Phoebe 4
Selina 4
Sophia 4
Susannah 4
Angelina 3
Catherine 3
Minnie 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 103
John 73
Thomas 58
George 54
Henry 52
Charles 49
James 43
Joseph 31
Samuel 24
Frederick 23
Alfred 21
Edward 18
Walter 14
Harry 13
Richard 12
Robert 12
Arthur 10
Albert 9
Edwin 9
Frank 8
Ernest 7
Benjamin 6
Daniel 6
Thos. 6
Herbert 5
Josiah 4
David 3
Fred 3
Fredk. 3
Jonah 3
Mark 3
Philip 3
Wright 3
Cyril 2
Cyrus 2
Edgar 2
Francis 2
Frederic 2
Harold 2
Jessie 2
Jonathan 2
Lewis 2
Richd. 2
Roger 2
Sydney 2
Tom 2
Willie 2
Willm. 2
Charlie 1
Enoch 1

FAQ

Clift surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clift surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,622 people were recorded with the Clift surname. That placed it at #2,633 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clift surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,378 in 2016. That gives Clift a modern rank of #2,759.

What does the Clift surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a cliff or steep slope.

What does the Clift map show?

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