UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone from a southern cliff or hillside.
In the 1881 census there were 427 people recorded with the Sutcliff surname, ranking it #7,608 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 73, ranked #33,502, down from #7,608 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Manchester and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sutcliff is 968 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 82.9%.
1881 census count
427
Ranked #7,608
Modern count
73
2016, ranked #33,502
Peak year
1861
968 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sutcliff surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sutcliff 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 | 692 | #3,769 |
| 1861 | historical | 968 | #2,879 |
| 1881 | historical | 427 | #7,608 |
| 1891 | historical | 310 | #10,812 |
| 1901 | historical | 174 | #16,520 |
| 1911 | historical | 180 | #15,961 |
| 1997 | modern | 75 | #30,109 |
| 1998 | modern | 65 | #31,477 |
| 1999 | modern | 58 | #32,268 |
| 2000 | modern | 64 | #31,735 |
| 2001 | modern | 55 | #32,482 |
| 2002 | modern | 62 | #32,214 |
| 2003 | modern | 59 | #32,530 |
| 2004 | modern | 65 | #32,177 |
| 2005 | modern | 63 | #32,602 |
| 2006 | modern | 64 | #32,839 |
| 2007 | modern | 73 | #32,287 |
| 2008 | modern | 70 | #32,856 |
| 2009 | modern | 73 | #32,923 |
| 2010 | modern | 73 | #33,249 |
| 2011 | modern | 71 | #33,392 |
| 2012 | modern | 75 | #33,263 |
| 2013 | modern | 72 | #33,631 |
| 2014 | modern | 74 | #33,531 |
| 2015 | modern | 75 | #33,425 |
| 2016 | modern | 73 | #33,502 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Manchester, Preston, Bradford and Whalley. 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 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 4 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Whalley | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sutcliff 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 Sutcliff, 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 Sutcliff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sutcliff 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, Sutcliff 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 Sutcliff is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sutcliff, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SUTCLIFF originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period, deriving from the Old English words "sūth" meaning south and "clif" referring to a cliff or steep slope. It was likely a topographic name initially describing someone who lived near a southern cliff or hillside.
One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sudcliffe". This suggests the name was already well-established in parts of England by the 11th century.
Over time, various spelling variations emerged, such as Sutcliffe, Sutcliff, Sutcliffe, and Suttcliffe, with the modern form SUTCLIFF becoming more common from the 16th century onwards. The name was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Notable individuals bearing the SUTCLIFF surname include Sir Thomas Sutcliffe (1532-1592), an English landowner and Sheriff of Yorkshire; Matthew Sutcliffe (1550-1629), an English academic and Dean of Exeter; John Sutcliffe (1752-1828), an English mechanical engineer and inventor; and Thomas Sutcliffe (1819-1888), a co-founder of the English town of Saltaire.
Another prominent figure was Denys Sutcliffe (1919-1994), a British military officer who served in World War II and later became a respected author and historian. His works include "The Battle of the Atlantic" and "The Saxon and Viking Kings".
The SUTCLIFF surname has a rich history spanning several centuries, originating as a descriptive name in the Anglo-Saxon period and gradually evolving into its modern form. Its earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the Domesday Book, demonstrating its long-standing presence in England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sutcliff 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 229 Sutcliffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.51x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 229 | 5.51x |
| Lancashire | 95 | 1.91x |
| Surrey | 33 | 1.61x |
| Derbyshire | 17 | 2.59x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 0.31x |
| Glamorgan | 6 | 0.82x |
| Kent | 5 | 0.35x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 0.88x |
| Durham | 3 | 0.24x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 0.36x |
| Leicestershire | 3 | 0.65x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 0.28x |
| Essex | 2 | 0.24x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.23x |
| Isle of Man | 2 | 2.57x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 0.31x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.14x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 0.39x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.11x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.11x |
| Montgomeryshire | 1 | 1.04x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.18x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Horton In Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 39 Sutcliffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.08x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Horton In Bradford | 39 | 60.08x |
| Hunslet | 15 | 23.14x |
| Shelley | 15 | 617.28x |
| Eccleshill | 13 | 128.46x |
| Castleford | 11 | 72.66x |
| Leeds | 10 | 4.26x |
| Bermondsey | 9 | 7.21x |
| Lockwood | 9 | 60.20x |
| Northowram | 9 | 30.87x |
| Wortley In Bramley | 9 | 27.34x |
| Boroughbridge | 8 | 571.43x |
| Elland Cum Greetland | 8 | 42.74x |
| Preston | 8 | 6.01x |
| Ripley | 8 | 98.52x |
| Thornton In Bradford | 8 | 57.80x |
| Toxteth Park | 8 | 4.75x |
| Wuerdle Wardle | 8 | 52.95x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 7 | 6.44x |
| Lambeth | 7 | 1.91x |
| Saddleworth | 7 | 21.83x |
| Warrington | 7 | 11.86x |
| Bowling | 6 | 14.57x |
| Bradford | 6 | 5.96x |
| Coyty Lower | 6 | 126.58x |
| Gorton | 6 | 12.82x |
| Halifax | 6 | 9.83x |
| Southowram | 6 | 47.28x |
| Stretford | 6 | 21.91x |
| Brotherton | 5 | 299.40x |
| Chobham | 5 | 138.50x |
| Linthwaite | 5 | 57.21x |
| Litchurch | 5 | 18.92x |
| Liversedge | 5 | 27.03x |
| Morley | 5 | 23.14x |
| Padiham | 5 | 41.60x |
| Radford | 5 | 17.41x |
| Bromley London | 4 | 4.33x |
| Crompton | 4 | 28.23x |
| Eckington | 4 | 25.08x |
| Greenwich | 4 | 5.99x |
| Moss Side | 4 | 15.27x |
| Sculcoates | 4 | 6.07x |
| Send Ripley | 4 | 150.38x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 1.18x |
| Stoke | 4 | 41.49x |
| Todmorden Walsden | 4 | 30.01x |
| Allerton | 3 | 56.60x |
| Aston | 3 | 1.03x |
| Birkdale | 3 | 23.83x |
| Clifton | 3 | 7.21x |
| Garston | 3 | 20.42x |
| Gomersal | 3 | 15.46x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 3 | 2.65x |
| Manchester | 3 | 1.34x |
| Newton | 3 | 7.82x |
| Armley | 2 | 10.91x |
| Barkstone Ash | 2 | 408.16x |
| Burnley | 2 | 4.77x |
| Burton Upon Trent | 2 | 6.04x |
| Butterworth | 2 | 16.49x |
| Chorley | 2 | 7.16x |
| Haswell | 2 | 22.37x |
| Heap | 2 | 7.58x |
| Holy Trinity | 2 | 2.00x |
| Hound | 2 | 34.25x |
| Hulme | 2 | 1.92x |
| Islington London | 2 | 0.49x |
| North Meols | 2 | 4.11x |
| Onchan | 2 | 8.91x |
| Soyland | 2 | 40.08x |
| Westminster St John | 2 | 3.92x |
| Barking | 1 | 4.13x |
| Chester St Peter St | 1 | 100.00x |
| Dewsbury | 1 | 2.35x |
| Huddersfield | 1 | 1.65x |
| Newington | 1 | 0.65x |
| Salford | 1 | 0.68x |
| Sunderland | 1 | 4.54x |
| West Derby | 1 | 0.69x |
| West Ham | 1 | 0.55x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sutcliff surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 24 |
| Sarah | 18 |
| Hannah | 13 |
| Martha | 13 |
| Ann | 12 |
| Jane | 12 |
| Elizabeth | 11 |
| Emily | 9 |
| Clara | 7 |
| Eliza | 6 |
| Alice | 5 |
| Caroline | 5 |
| Margaret | 4 |
| Ada | 3 |
| Anne | 3 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Charlotte | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Lucy | 3 |
| Susannah | 3 |
| Bessie | 2 |
| Betty | 2 |
| Catherine | 2 |
| Elizth. | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Florence | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Henrietta | 2 |
| Lavinia | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Marion | 2 |
| Rachel | 2 |
| Selina | 2 |
| Agness | 1 |
| Cecil | 1 |
| Charity | 1 |
| Edna | 1 |
| Eliz.Jane | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Faith | 1 |
| Helena | 1 |
| Isabell | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Johannah | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Kathleen | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Tamer | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sutcliff surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 29 |
| William | 19 |
| Joseph | 10 |
| Thomas | 10 |
| George | 9 |
| James | 9 |
| Henry | 8 |
| Charles | 7 |
| Alfred | 6 |
| Albert | 4 |
| Robert | 4 |
| Arthur | 3 |
| Benjamin | 2 |
| Fielden | 2 |
| Fred | 2 |
| Fredrick | 2 |
| Harry | 2 |
| Joe | 2 |
| Morris | 2 |
| Richard | 2 |
| Samuel | 2 |
| Stephen | 2 |
| Tom | 2 |
| W. | 2 |
| Walter | 2 |
| Anthony | 1 |
| Antoney | 1 |
| Christopher | 1 |
| Cornelus | 1 |
| Daniel | 1 |
| David | 1 |
| Edger | 1 |
| Edward | 1 |
| Edwin | 1 |
| Ely | 1 |
| Enoch | 1 |
| Ernest | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Frank | 1 |
| Fred.R. | 1 |
| Fredk. | 1 |
| Isaac | 1 |
| J. | 1 |
| Jackey | 1 |
| Jonas | 1 |
| Jonathan | 1 |
| Joshua | 1 |
| Lester | 1 |
| Levi | 1 |
| Willie | 1 |
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 Sutcliff households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 85 |
| Cloth Weaver | 5 |
| Worsted Spinner | 5 |
| Worsted Weaver | 5 |
| Coal Miner | 4 |
| Dressmaker | 4 |
| Annuitant | 3 |
| Charwoman | 3 |
| Cotton Twiner | 3 |
| Cotton Weaver | 3 |
| Engine Fitter | 3 |
| Mill Hand (Woollen) | 3 |
| Tailoress | 3 |
| Wife | 3 |
| Woollen Piecer | 3 |
| (No Occ) Son | 2 |
| (Worsted) Weaver | 2 |
| Bricklayers Labr | 2 |
| Clerk | 2 |
| Confectioner | 2 |
| Cotton Piecer | 2 |
| Domestic Serv | 2 |
| Draper | 2 |
| India Rubber Merchant Daur | 2 |
| Launderis | 2 |
| No Occupation | 2 |
| Plasterer | 2 |
| Shopkeeper | 2 |
| Son | 2 |
| Stuff Weaver | 2 |
| Tailor | 2 |
| Visitor (V) | 2 |
| Weaver In Cotton Mill | 2 |
| Worsted Hd | 2 |
| Agent To Assurance Company | 1 |
| Agrl Labourer | 1 |
| Apprentice Slater | 1 |
| Assistant Bookeeper | 1 |
| Beamer Cotton | 1 |
| Beer Seller | 1 |
| Burler Wn | 1 |
| Cabdriver | 1 |
| Calico Warehose Clerk | 1 |
| Cardroom Cotton | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Carter Of Stone | 1 |
| Charr Woman | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Cotton Bleacher (Yarn) | 1 |
| Cotton Doubler | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 427 people were recorded with the Sutcliff surname. That placed it at #7,608 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 73 in 2016. That gives Sutcliff a modern rank of #33,502.
A locational surname referring to someone from a southern cliff or hillside.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sutcliff 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.