UK surname
An English occupational surname referring to a skilled worker who laid tiles on roofs or made roof tiles.
In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Ratliff surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 88, ranked #32,396, down from #18,026 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hadleigh, St James Clerkenwell and Stratford St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ratliff is 219 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.8%.
1881 census count
117
Ranked #18,026
Modern count
88
2016, ranked #32,396
Peak year
1851
219 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ratliff surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ratliff 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 | 219 | #9,712 |
| 1861 | historical | 213 | #11,419 |
| 1881 | historical | 117 | #18,026 |
| 1891 | historical | 102 | #23,719 |
| 1901 | historical | 83 | #24,900 |
| 1911 | historical | 106 | #21,948 |
| 1997 | modern | 79 | #29,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 78 | #30,192 |
| 1999 | modern | 75 | #30,661 |
| 2000 | modern | 80 | #30,139 |
| 2001 | modern | 91 | #28,670 |
| 2002 | modern | 91 | #29,181 |
| 2003 | modern | 94 | #28,686 |
| 2004 | modern | 90 | #29,481 |
| 2005 | modern | 91 | #29,406 |
| 2006 | modern | 93 | #29,411 |
| 2007 | modern | 89 | #30,383 |
| 2008 | modern | 91 | #30,431 |
| 2009 | modern | 85 | #31,717 |
| 2010 | modern | 89 | #31,745 |
| 2011 | modern | 87 | #31,905 |
| 2012 | modern | 87 | #32,180 |
| 2013 | modern | 88 | #32,349 |
| 2014 | modern | 89 | #32,409 |
| 2015 | modern | 89 | #32,325 |
| 2016 | modern | 88 | #32,396 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hadleigh, St James Clerkenwell, Stratford St Mary, Boxford, Groton and Potterspury, Cosgrove. 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 | Hadleigh | Suffolk |
| 2 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 3 | Stratford St Mary | Suffolk |
| 4 | Boxford, Groton | Suffolk |
| 5 | Potterspury, Cosgrove | Northamptonshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ratliff 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 Ratliff, 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 Ratliff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ratliff 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, Ratliff 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 Ratliff is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ratliff, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RATLIFF is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words 'ræt' meaning rat and 'hlaf' meaning loaf or bread. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who worked as a rat catcher or someone associated with rats in some way.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as 'Rattelef' in Essex. This suggests that the name was already established in England by the late 11th century. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, RATLIFF.
In the 13th century, records show a John Ratliff residing in Huntingdonshire, England. Another early reference is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1273, which mention a William Ratlyff.
The name RATLIFF was also associated with certain place names, such as Ratliffe Culey in Shropshire and Ratliffe upon Trent in Nottinghamshire. These locations may have influenced the surname's development or derived their names from early bearers of the surname.
Notable individuals with the surname RATLIFF throughout history include:
1. Thomas Ratliff (1563-1637), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Dromore in Ireland. 2. John Ratliff (1597-1660), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons and supported the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War. 3. William Ratliff (1670-1732), an English architect who designed several churches and country houses in the early 18th century. 4. Mary Ratliff (1690-1764), an English philanthropist and benefactor who founded a school for poor children in London. 5. Benjamin Ratliff (1784-1858), an American pioneer and farmer who played a role in the settlement of Kentucky.
These examples illustrate the longevity and spread of the RATLIFF surname, which has been present in England and later the United States for centuries, with bearers making contributions in various fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ratliff 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. Suffolk leads with 46 Ratliffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.81x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Suffolk | 46 | 32.81x |
| Middlesex | 18 | 1.56x |
| Surrey | 12 | 2.14x |
| Durham | 11 | 3.21x |
| Warwickshire | 9 | 3.10x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 0.59x |
| Sussex | 5 | 2.58x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 1.11x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.39x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.54x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.57x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 7.29x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 3.95x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.67x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.09x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Elmsett in Suffolk leads with 13 Ratliffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 7647.06x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Elmsett | 13 | 7647.06x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 10 | 34.03x |
| Bramford | 9 | 1698.11x |
| Coventry Holy Trinity | 8 | 92.27x |
| Croydon | 7 | 22.49x |
| Poplar London | 7 | 32.23x |
| Everton | 6 | 13.78x |
| Hadleigh | 6 | 441.18x |
| Stratford St Mary | 6 | 3000.00x |
| Boxford | 5 | 1923.08x |
| Edwardstone | 5 | 2941.18x |
| Clerkenwell London | 4 | 14.72x |
| Whitefriars Precinct | 3 | 1666.67x |
| Barlborough | 2 | 298.51x |
| Bignor | 2 | 2857.14x |
| Godalming | 2 | 56.66x |
| Hammersmith London | 2 | 7.05x |
| Hastings St Mary In The | 2 | 48.31x |
| Newmarket St Mary | 2 | 185.19x |
| Wandsworth | 2 | 18.05x |
| Alverthorpe Cum Thornes | 1 | 24.15x |
| Chilvers Coton | 1 | 84.03x |
| Eastbourne | 1 | 11.20x |
| Eccleston In Prescot | 1 | 14.58x |
| Epsom | 1 | 36.63x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 1 | 6.74x |
| Heversham With Milnthorpe | 1 | 163.93x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.56x |
| Manchester | 1 | 1.63x |
| Methwold | 1 | 175.44x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.36x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 8.53x |
| St Michael Lincoln | 1 | 200.00x |
| Tranmere | 1 | 10.71x |
| Upton On Severn | 1 | 102.04x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ratliff surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 6 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Ada | 3 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Sarah | 2 |
| Abigail | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Evelyn | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Huldah | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Juliet | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Lilly | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margt. | 1 |
| Marianne | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Maryann | 1 |
| Meggie | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Olive | 1 |
| Phoebe | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ratliff surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Ratliff households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 24 |
| Ag Lab | 6 |
| Domestic Servant | 3 |
| Farm Servant | 2 |
| Lime Carter | 2 |
| Able Seaman | 1 |
| Agricultural Laborer | 1 |
| Apprentice 22/2 | 1 |
| Book Collector | 1 |
| Brewer | 1 |
| Brewers Pupil | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Chimney Sweep | 1 |
| Curate Of Upton Severn | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Farmer &c 200 Ac Employing 10 Men | 1 |
| Flour Shop Assistant | 1 |
| Foundry Labourer Iron | 1 |
| Gardiner ? | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Income Derived From Houses | 1 |
| Innkeeper | 1 |
| Jeweller | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer Unemployed | 1 |
| Late Coal Miner | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Legal Junior Clerk | 1 |
| Library ? Laundress | 1 |
| Lime Burner | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Master Brewer | 1 |
| Merchant | 1 |
| Miller | 1 |
| Miller (Corn) | 1 |
| Miller Corn | 1 |
| No Occ | 1 |
| Printer | 1 |
| Ribbon Warper | 1 |
| Sewing Machinist | 1 |
| Ship Wright | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Watch Maker Finisher | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Ratliff surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 88 in 2016. That gives Ratliff a modern rank of #32,396.
An English occupational surname referring to a skilled worker who laid tiles on roofs or made roof tiles.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ratliff 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.