UK surname
A surname originating from a place name referring to a high cliff or precipice.
In the 1881 census there were 355 people recorded with the Hinchcliff surname, ranking it #8,679 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 42, ranked #35,336, down from #8,679 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, London parishes and Thornhill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hinchcliff is 355 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 88.2%.
1881 census count
355
Ranked #8,679
Modern count
42
2016, ranked #35,336
Peak year
1881
355 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hinchcliff surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hinchcliff surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 249 | #8,816 |
| 1861 | historical | 343 | #7,444 |
| 1881 | historical | 355 | #8,679 |
| 1891 | historical | 208 | #14,496 |
| 1901 | historical | 149 | #18,146 |
| 1911 | historical | 165 | #16,808 |
| 1997 | modern | 70 | #30,618 |
| 1998 | modern | 66 | #31,387 |
| 1999 | modern | 61 | #31,971 |
| 2000 | modern | 65 | #31,641 |
| 2001 | modern | 44 | #33,490 |
| 2002 | modern | 39 | #34,219 |
| 2003 | modern | 37 | #34,432 |
| 2004 | modern | 40 | #34,387 |
| 2005 | modern | 41 | #34,478 |
| 2006 | modern | 39 | #34,932 |
| 2007 | modern | 37 | #35,215 |
| 2008 | modern | 37 | #35,327 |
| 2009 | modern | 40 | #35,274 |
| 2010 | modern | 48 | #34,946 |
| 2011 | modern | 50 | #34,816 |
| 2012 | modern | 47 | #34,992 |
| 2013 | modern | 45 | #35,167 |
| 2014 | modern | 44 | #35,241 |
| 2015 | modern | 43 | #35,269 |
| 2016 | modern | 42 | #35,336 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, London parishes, Thornhill, Penistone (Denby), Kirkburton (Cumberworth Half) and Almondbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silkstone | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Thornhill | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Penistone (Denby), Kirkburton (Cumberworth Half) | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Almondbury | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hinchcliff surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hinchcliff, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hinchcliff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hinchcliff household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hinchcliff is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hinchcliff is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hinchcliff, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "HINCHCLIFF" is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, referring to a place or settlement named "Hinchcliffe" or a similar spelling variation.
The name is likely derived from the Old English words "hinca," meaning "a hinge," and "clif," meaning "a cliff" or "steep bank." This suggests that the name may have been associated with a particular geographical feature, such as a settlement situated near a steep cliff or hillside with a hinge-like appearance.
One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records the name "Hingeclif" in Worcestershire. This entry provides evidence of the name's existence during the Norman Conquest of England.
In the 13th century, records show the name spelled as "Hynchclyf" and "Hyncheclyff," indicating the evolution of the spelling over time. During this period, the name was predominantly found in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Notable individuals with the surname "HINCHCLIFF" include Sir Robert Hinchcliff (1576-1647), an English lawyer and member of the Long Parliament during the English Civil War. Another prominent figure was John Hinchcliff (1731-1794), a renowned English clockmaker from Yorkshire, whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the gentry.
In the 19th century, the Reverend William Hinchcliff (1801-1876) was a prominent Anglican clergyman and author, known for his scholarly works on ecclesiastical history. Thomas Hinchcliff (1825-1901), a successful industrialist from Lancashire, established a thriving textile manufacturing business during the Industrial Revolution.
The name also appears in historical records related to military service, with Captain James Hinchcliff (1887-1916) being awarded the Military Cross for his bravery during World War I. He was tragically killed in action at the Battle of the Somme.
While the name "HINCHCLIFF" may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the distinct geographical features of northern England, where it first emerged as a locational surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hinchcliff surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 207 Hinchcliffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.05x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 207 | 6.05x |
| Lancashire | 29 | 0.71x |
| Middlesex | 23 | 0.67x |
| Surrey | 20 | 1.19x |
| Derbyshire | 16 | 2.96x |
| Cheshire | 12 | 1.57x |
| Cumberland | 7 | 2.35x |
| Kent | 7 | 0.59x |
| Banffshire | 6 | 8.38x |
| Essex | 4 | 0.59x |
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 0.72x |
| Nottinghamshire | 4 | 0.86x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 0.34x |
| Devon | 3 | 0.42x |
| Sussex | 3 | 0.52x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 0.44x |
| Montgomeryshire | 1 | 1.26x |
| Morayshire | 1 | 1.86x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.19x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Skelmanthorpe in Yorkshire leads with 25 Hinchcliffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 677.51x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hinchcliff surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 23 |
| Sarah | 19 |
| Elizabeth | 11 |
| Emma | 9 |
| Alice | 8 |
| Hannah | 7 |
| Harriet | 7 |
| Louisa | 5 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Annie | 4 |
| Charlotte | 4 |
| Eliza | 4 |
| Ellen | 4 |
| Emily | 4 |
| Clara | 3 |
| Esther | 3 |
| Fanny | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Lucy | 3 |
| Martha | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Amelia | 2 |
| Bessey | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Eleanor | 2 |
| Clarah | 1 |
| Clare | 1 |
| Constance | 1 |
| Elenor | 1 |
| Elizath.Alice | 1 |
| Elizath.Susan | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Eva | 1 |
| Florrie | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Hanah | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Isabel | 1 |
| Jame | 1 |
| Jemima | 1 |
| Jesse | 1 |
| Julie | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Lousia | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Millicent | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hinchcliff surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 21 |
| William | 18 |
| George | 13 |
| James | 13 |
| Charles | 10 |
| Joseph | 8 |
| Walter | 8 |
| Thomas | 7 |
| Arthur | 5 |
| Edward | 5 |
| Henry | 4 |
| Samuel | 3 |
| Tom | 3 |
| Albert | 2 |
| Alfred | 2 |
| Edwin | 2 |
| Fred | 2 |
| Geo. | 2 |
| Harry | 2 |
| Herbert | 2 |
| Hugh | 2 |
| Joe | 2 |
| Joshua | 2 |
| Sam | 2 |
| Andrew | 1 |
| Benjamin | 1 |
| Crossland | 1 |
| Daniel | 1 |
| Douglas | 1 |
| Earnest | 1 |
| Edwd.Wm. | 1 |
| Frank | 1 |
| Frederick | 1 |
| Geo.F. | 1 |
| Gladstone | 1 |
| Herman | 1 |
| Jno. | 1 |
| Jno.Henry | 1 |
| Jno.Robt. | 1 |
| Jonas | 1 |
| Reuben | 1 |
| Richard | 1 |
| Richd. | 1 |
| Robert | 1 |
| Saml. | 1 |
| Seth | 1 |
| Simeon | 1 |
| Stead | 1 |
| Thos. | 1 |
| Wm. | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 355 people were recorded with the Hinchcliff surname. That placed it at #8,679 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 42 in 2016. That gives Hinchcliff a modern rank of #35,336.
A surname originating from a place name referring to a high cliff or precipice.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hinchcliff bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.