NameCensus.

UK surname

Stiff

An English occupational surname referring to a stubborn or obstinate person, or someone with a rigid posture.

In the 1881 census there were 1,036 people recorded with the Stiff surname, ranking it #3,791 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,133, ranked #5,200, down from #3,791 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Raydon, Hitcham, Brettenham and Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Redcar and Cleveland and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stiff is 1,522 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.4%.

1881 census count

1,036

Ranked #3,791

Modern count

1,133

2016, ranked #5,200

Peak year

1911

1,522 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stiff had 1,036 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,791 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,133 in 2016, ranked #5,200.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,522 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Stiff surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stiff surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stiff 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 649 #4,011
1861 historical 637 #4,207
1881 historical 1,036 #3,791
1891 historical 1,057 #3,969
1901 historical 1,382 #3,639
1911 historical 1,522 #3,181
1997 modern 1,233 #4,606
1998 modern 1,295 #4,587
1999 modern 1,295 #4,611
2000 modern 1,297 #4,586
2001 modern 1,256 #4,633
2002 modern 1,258 #4,711
2003 modern 1,224 #4,723
2004 modern 1,224 #4,728
2005 modern 1,178 #4,836
2006 modern 1,178 #4,852
2007 modern 1,186 #4,859
2008 modern 1,186 #4,883
2009 modern 1,221 #4,867
2010 modern 1,224 #4,956
2011 modern 1,191 #5,016
2012 modern 1,142 #5,114
2013 modern 1,192 #5,016
2014 modern 1,178 #5,108
2015 modern 1,157 #5,127
2016 modern 1,133 #5,200

Geography

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Where Stiffs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Raydon, Hitcham, Brettenham, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Redcar and Cleveland and Babergh. 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 Raydon Suffolk
2 Hitcham, Brettenham Suffolk
3 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 004 Mid Suffolk
2 Mid Suffolk 006 Mid Suffolk
3 Mid Suffolk 010 Mid Suffolk
4 Redcar and Cleveland 016 Redcar and Cleveland
5 Babergh 009 Babergh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stiff

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stiff

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Stiff is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Stiff is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Stiff falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Stiff is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Stiff

The surname "STIFF" is of English origin, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "stif," meaning "rigid" or "unbending." This name was likely initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a stiff or inflexible demeanor.

In the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, one of the earliest records of English surnames, there is an entry for a Richard le Stiff, residing in Oxfordshire. This is one of the earliest known instances of the name's use. Similarly, in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, there is a mention of a Johannes Stiff.

During the medieval period, the surname Stiff was primarily concentrated in the counties of Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire, though it eventually spread to other parts of England. Variations in spelling were common, with forms such as Styffe, Stiffe, and Stieff appearing in historical records.

One notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Stiff, a 14th-century English knight and landowner from Gloucestershire. He was a prominent figure in the local community and served as a member of Parliament during the reign of Edward III.

Another individual of note was William Stiff, a 16th-century merchant from York who was involved in the wool trade. He was a wealthy and influential figure in the city and served as a member of the York Merchant Adventurers' Company.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in the parish records of St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate, London, with the baptism of a child named Margery Stiff in 1632. This suggests the name had spread to the capital city by that time.

During the English Civil War, a Captain John Stiff fought on the Parliamentarian side and was noted for his bravery in several battles. He later settled in Gloucestershire after the war's conclusion.

In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the name was Thomas Stiff, an English botanist and naturalist from Gloucestershire. He made significant contributions to the study of plants and wrote several treatises on the subject.

As the name spread throughout England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the British colonies in North America and beyond. While not a particularly common surname, it has been borne by numerous individuals throughout history, with its origins firmly rooted in the English language and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stiff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stiff 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. Suffolk leads with 311 Stiffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.17x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 311 25.17x
Middlesex 188 1.85x
Surrey 77 1.56x
Gloucestershire 72 3.62x
Kent 72 2.08x
Essex 62 3.10x
Lancashire 39 0.32x
Yorkshire 23 0.23x
Hampshire 20 0.96x
Warwickshire 20 0.78x
Monmouthshire 16 2.18x
Hertfordshire 13 1.86x
Worcestershire 12 0.91x
Lincolnshire 11 0.68x
Northamptonshire 11 1.15x
Somerset 11 0.67x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.73x
Staffordshire 10 0.29x
Berkshire 7 0.92x
Devon 6 0.28x
Durham 6 0.20x
Sussex 6 0.35x
Oxfordshire 5 0.80x
Renfrewshire 4 0.51x
Bedfordshire 3 0.57x
Dumfriesshire 3 1.34x
East Lothian 3 2.23x
Glamorgan 3 0.17x
Lanarkshire 3 0.09x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.33x
Cheshire 2 0.09x
Norfolk 2 0.13x
Royal Navy 2 1.65x
Rutland 2 2.68x
Channel Islands 1 0.33x
Fife 1 0.17x
Midlothian 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 41 Stiffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.17x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 41 4.17x
Norton 33 1274.13x
Raydon 28 1521.74x
Hitcham 24 769.23x
Thurston 22 909.09x
West Ham 21 4.75x
Clapham 20 15.77x
Shoreditch London 19 4.32x
Iron Acton 17 422.89x
Mile End Old Town 16 9.99x
St Marylebone London 16 2.95x
Stowmarket 14 98.04x
Birmingham 13 1.52x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 6.41x
Harwich St Nicholas 12 77.57x
Aldershot 11 15.79x
Langham 11 1549.30x
Newington 11 2.94x
Chelsea London 10 3.27x
Drinkstone 10 621.12x
Haslingden 10 20.06x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 4.90x
Bromley London 9 4.03x
Hackney London 9 1.58x
Holton St Mary 9 1525.42x
Kensington London 9 1.60x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 9 64.38x
Mansfield 9 19.02x
Risby 9 588.24x
Cam 8 130.93x
Chedburgh 8 909.09x
Clare 8 135.14x
Edmonton 8 9.79x
Friskney 8 155.34x
Lambeth 8 0.90x
Lowestoft 8 13.71x
Naughton 8 1454.55x
Odiham 8 87.62x
Over Hulton 8 233.92x
Tottenham 8 4.95x
Chipping Sodbury 7 188.68x
Chislehurst 7 37.72x
Cotton 7 397.73x
Frampton Cotterell 7 100.29x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 7 61.03x
Little Horkesley 7 1014.49x
Northaw 7 346.53x
Paddington London 7 1.88x
Plumstead 7 6.07x
Southwark Christchurch 7 14.72x
Stanton 7 238.91x
Bedminster 6 3.91x
Buckland In Dover 6 52.31x
Buxhall 6 363.64x
Castor 6 147.78x
Cornsay 6 73.80x
Edwardstone 6 394.74x
Hipperholme Cum 6 13.58x
Holbrook 6 221.40x
Pentlow 6 588.24x
Woolpit 6 167.13x
Battersea 5 1.34x
Burton Extra 5 25.47x
Ecclesall Bierlow 5 2.45x
Foxearth 5 359.71x
Hougham 5 24.30x
Hunston 5 1063.83x
Lastingham 5 781.25x
Maidstone 5 4.85x
Manchester 5 0.92x
Northampton St Giles 5 13.76x
Northfleet 5 16.40x
Oxford St Giles 5 16.73x
Shinfield 5 111.61x
Somerton 5 1219.51x
Trevethin 5 7.22x
Aston 4 0.57x
Cathcart 4 9.40x
Higham 4 655.74x
St Pancras London 4 0.49x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 56
John 48
George 46
Charles 28
Alfred 26
James 26
Henry 23
Thomas 19
Frederick 18
Robert 18
Walter 15
Joseph 14
Arthur 13
Harry 10
Samuel 9
David 8
Edward 8
Abraham 5
Edwin 5
Wm. 5
Albert 4
Benjamin 4
Elijah 3
Fred 3
Isaac 3
Richard 3
Stephen 3
Arther 2
Frank 2
Gilbert 2
Gregory 2
Herbert 2
Horace 2
Hy 2
Jabez 2
Jeremiah 2
Jesse 2
Philip 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
A.John 1
Bendict 1
Benjaman 1
Bird 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Edmond 1
Ellis 1
Enock 1
Issaac 1

FAQ

Stiff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stiff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,036 people were recorded with the Stiff surname. That placed it at #3,791 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stiff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,133 in 2016. That gives Stiff a modern rank of #5,200.

What does the Stiff surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a stubborn or obstinate person, or someone with a rigid posture.

What does the Stiff map show?

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