NameCensus.

UK surname

Radcliff

From a place called Radcliffe in England, likely derived from the Old English words "read" meaning red and "clif" meaning cliff.

In the 1881 census there were 272 people recorded with the Radcliff surname, ranking it #10,409 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 127, ranked #26,566, down from #10,409 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Halifax and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Salford, Sheffield and Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Radcliff is 452 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 53.3%.

1881 census count

272

Ranked #10,409

Modern count

127

2016, ranked #26,566

Peak year

1861

452 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Radcliff had 272 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,409 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 127 in 2016, ranked #26,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 452 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Radcliff surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Radcliff surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Radcliff 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 293 #7,783
1861 historical 452 #5,730
1881 historical 272 #10,409
1891 historical 305 #10,976
1901 historical 256 #12,934
1911 historical 176 #16,185
1997 modern 90 #28,360
1998 modern 92 #28,680
1999 modern 85 #29,578
2000 modern 84 #29,706
2001 modern 81 #29,828
2002 modern 86 #29,771
2003 modern 83 #30,088
2004 modern 90 #29,481
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 89 #30,027
2007 modern 95 #29,493
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 97 #30,076
2010 modern 105 #29,453
2011 modern 105 #29,287
2012 modern 115 #27,717
2013 modern 116 #27,992
2014 modern 123 #27,206
2015 modern 126 #26,654
2016 modern 127 #26,566

Geography

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Where Radcliffs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Halifax, London parishes, Toxteth Park and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Salford, Sheffield, Cheshire West and Chester, Runnymede and Bury. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Salford 013 Salford
2 Sheffield 004 Sheffield
3 Cheshire West and Chester 006 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Runnymede 005 Runnymede
5 Bury 016 Bury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Radcliff

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Radcliff

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Radcliff, 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 Radcliff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Radcliff 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Radcliff is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Radcliff is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Radcliff 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 Radcliff is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Radcliff

The surname Radcliff has its origins in England, emerging during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Radcliffe or Ratcliffe, which is found in several counties across England, including Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Buckinghamshire. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "rad" meaning "red" and "clif" meaning "cliff" or "slope," suggesting a connection to a red cliff or hillside.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be traced back to the 13th century. One notable early reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1273, which mentions a William de Radeclive. Another early record is from the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, which includes the name Robertus de Radeclyve.

The Radcliff surname has been prominent throughout English history, with several notable individuals bearing this name. One of the earliest was Sir Ralph Radcliffe (c. 1335-1386), a knight and landowner from Lancashire who served as a Member of Parliament. Another prominent figure was Sir John Radcliffe (c. 1537-1568), a courtier and member of the Privy Council during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, John Radcliffe (1650-1714) was an influential English physician and founder of the Radcliffe Library and the Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford. His contemporary, James Radcliffe, 3rd Earl of Derwentwater (1689-1716), played a significant role in the Jacobite rising of 1715, leading rebel forces against the Hanoverian succession.

During the 18th century, Ann Radcliffe (1764-1823) gained fame as a pioneering English author and a founding figure of the Gothic fiction genre, with novels such as "The Mysteries of Udolpho" and "The Italian." Another notable figure from this period was Sir Joseph Radcliffe (1744-1819), a British naval officer and colonial administrator who served as the first Governor of St. Helena.

The Radcliff surname has also been associated with various place names and their historical spellings, such as Radcliffe Tower in Lancashire, formerly known as Radeclive or Radclyffe Tower, and the village of Radcliffe-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire, which was recorded as Radeclive in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Radcliff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Radcliff 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. Lancashire leads with 62 Radcliffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.92x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 62 1.92x
Middlesex 36 1.32x
Yorkshire 26 0.96x
Lanarkshire 19 2.16x
Cheshire 17 2.83x
Derbyshire 17 3.99x
Glamorgan 14 2.95x
Northumberland 14 3.46x
Kent 12 1.29x
Devon 8 1.41x
Cornwall 7 2.27x
Cumberland 7 2.99x
Isle of Man 7 13.85x
Gloucestershire 4 0.75x
Hertfordshire 4 2.13x
Dumfriesshire 3 4.99x
Essex 3 0.56x
Staffordshire 3 0.33x
Surrey 3 0.23x
Brecknockshire 2 3.67x
Durham 2 0.25x
Midlothian 2 0.55x
Sussex 2 0.44x
Berkshire 1 0.49x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.58x
Hampshire 1 0.18x
Lincolnshire 1 0.23x
Worcestershire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shotts in Lanarkshire leads with 17 Radcliffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 161.44x.

Place Total Index
Shotts 17 161.44x
Toxteth Park 13 11.89x
Hornsey 10 29.05x
Liverpool 10 5.10x
Whittington 10 169.49x
Bowling 8 29.95x
Bramley In Rotherham 7 1891.89x
Elswick 7 21.66x
Hampton Wick London 7 351.76x
West Derby 7 7.41x
Westgate 7 27.91x
Dukinfield 6 21.61x
Egremont 6 107.33x
Pemberton 6 46.58x
St Marylebone London 6 4.13x
Wessington 6 1052.63x
Wrightington 6 425.53x
Ystradyfodwg 6 14.43x
Bexley 5 60.90x
Birkenhead 5 10.44x
Stoke Damerel 5 12.61x
Hammersmith London 4 5.97x
Islington London 4 1.52x
St Austell 4 37.99x
Wenvoe 4 1052.63x
West Dean 4 46.14x
Kirkdale 3 5.52x
Lonan 3 98.04x
Pendleton In Salford 3 7.80x
Ramsgate 3 19.79x
Ruthwell 3 370.37x
Sedgley 3 8.79x
St Teath 3 161.29x
Tintwistle 3 93.46x
Tonbridge 3 8.96x
Barony 2 0.90x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 5.70x
Hillingdon 2 23.04x
Linthorpe 2 12.43x
Llanwrtyd 2 253.16x
Manchester 2 1.38x
Maughold 2 51.28x
Nether Hallam 2 5.48x
Oldham 2 1.92x
Preston 2 24.97x
Stayley 2 29.11x
Swansea Town 2 5.15x
Adlington 1 33.11x
Allerton 1 29.07x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 4.11x
Battersea 1 1.00x
Bickerstaffe 1 47.39x
Birkdale 1 12.24x
Bradford 1 1.53x
Burnley 1 3.68x
Bushey 1 22.37x
Cardiff St Bride Super 1 1666.67x
Cardiff St John 1 6.46x
Duddingston 1 13.66x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.68x
Elstree 1 161.29x
Hartley Westpall 1 454.55x
Hilderthorpe 1 73.53x
Hitchin 1 11.81x
Lewisham 1 2.02x
Middlesbrough 1 2.85x
Modbury 1 68.97x
Newington 1 0.99x
Reading St Mary 1 6.11x
Sidmouth 1 30.86x
Sowerby In Thirsk 1 61.73x
Spondon 1 60.98x
Spotland 1 2.79x
St Luke London 1 2.29x
Sutton St Mary 1 24.33x
Tattenhall 1 98.04x
Thornton In Lonsdale 1 333.33x
West Ham 1 0.84x
Worcester All Sts 1 48.54x
Wyddial 1 526.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 12
Ann 7
Jane 7
Sarah 7
Alice 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Margaret 3
Annie 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Phoebe 2
Susan 2
Anne 1
Annis 1
Betty 1
Catharine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Francis 1
Geraldine 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Jemina 1
Keturah 1
Lavinia 1
Lucy 1
M.A. 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
R.H. 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1
Virginia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
James 14
John 14
George 9
Thomas 9
Arthur 6
Henry 5
Alfred 4
Charles 4
Albert 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Thos. 3
Edward 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Solomon 2
Walter 2
... 1
Allan 1
Daniel 1
Emil 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geoffry 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Mathew 1
Moses 1
Saml. 1
Simon 1
Titchbourne 1
Walker 1
Wiliam 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Radcliff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Radcliff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 272 people were recorded with the Radcliff surname. That placed it at #10,409 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Radcliff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 127 in 2016. That gives Radcliff a modern rank of #26,566.

What does the Radcliff surname mean?

From a place called Radcliffe in England, likely derived from the Old English words "read" meaning red and "clif" meaning cliff.

What does the Radcliff map show?

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