NameCensus.

UK surname

Rockcliffe

In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Rockcliffe surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 100, ranked #31,123, down from #26,869 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Warwick and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rockcliffe is 116 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 108.3%.

1881 census count

48

Ranked #26,869

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

2011

116 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rockcliffe had 48 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,869 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 83 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Rockcliffe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rockcliffe surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rockcliffe 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 19 #29,904
1861 historical 46 #28,170
1881 historical 48 #26,869
1891 historical 58 #29,439
1901 historical 83 #24,900
1911 historical 44 #28,454
1997 modern 78 #29,785
1998 modern 82 #29,754
1999 modern 85 #29,578
2000 modern 85 #29,598
2001 modern 81 #29,828
2002 modern 88 #29,534
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 99 #28,136
2005 modern 93 #29,133
2006 modern 94 #29,264
2007 modern 107 #27,557
2008 modern 108 #27,684
2009 modern 114 #27,363
2010 modern 115 #27,874
2011 modern 116 #27,477
2012 modern 108 #28,849
2013 modern 107 #29,561
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Rockcliffes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Warwick, Wakefield and Leeds. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 014 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Warwick 013 Warwick
3 Wakefield 021 Wakefield
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 015 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Leeds 070 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rockcliffe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rockcliffe

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Rockcliffe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Rockcliffe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Rockcliffe is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rockcliffe is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rockcliffe 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 Rockcliffe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Rockcliffe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rockcliffe 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 15 Rockcliffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.70x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 15 2.70x
Surrey 10 4.39x
Kent 6 3.76x
Middlesex 6 1.28x
Cheshire 4 3.87x
Lincolnshire 3 4.01x
Westmorland 3 29.15x
Yorkshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Battersea in Surrey leads with 9 Rockcliffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.26x.

Place Total Index
Battersea 9 52.26x
Eccleston In Prescot 6 215.05x
Milton In Milton 6 882.35x
Dalton In Furness 5 233.64x
Islington London 4 8.82x
Horncastle 3 389.61x
Levens 3 2000.00x
Tottington Lower End 3 113.64x
Hampstead London 2 27.43x
Lymm 2 266.67x
Manningham 1 17.51x
Openshaw 1 38.46x
Penge 1 33.44x
Stockport 1 18.80x
Stockport Etchells 1 454.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 4
Alice 2
Anne 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Flora 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Sarah 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
William 5
Francis 3
Edwin 2
James 2
Arthur 1
Cornelius 1
Edward 1
Hannah 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1

Top occupations

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 Rockcliffe households.

FAQ

Rockcliffe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rockcliffe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Rockcliffe surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rockcliffe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Rockcliffe a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Rockcliffe map show?

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