NameCensus.

UK surname

Sutcliffe

From the Old English elements "sūð" (south) and "clif" (cliff), referring to someone who lived near a southern cliff.

In the 1881 census there were 11,839 people recorded with the Sutcliffe surname, ranking it #361 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,111, ranked #719, down from #361 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Halifax and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sutcliffe is 13,827 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.0%.

1881 census count

11,839

Ranked #361

Modern count

9,111

2016, ranked #719

Peak year

1911

13,827 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sutcliffe had 11,839 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #361 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,111 in 2016, ranked #719.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13,827 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Sutcliffe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sutcliffe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sutcliffe 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 7,609 #365
1861 historical 7,815 #350
1881 historical 11,839 #361
1891 historical 12,665 #346
1901 historical 13,067 #402
1911 historical 13,827 #352
1997 modern 9,581 #655
1998 modern 9,794 #664
1999 modern 9,947 #657
2000 modern 9,963 #651
2001 modern 9,688 #656
2002 modern 9,774 #667
2003 modern 9,458 #675
2004 modern 9,393 #678
2005 modern 9,210 #684
2006 modern 9,199 #682
2007 modern 9,228 #689
2008 modern 9,253 #692
2009 modern 9,400 #699
2010 modern 9,509 #708
2011 modern 9,449 #699
2012 modern 9,239 #705
2013 modern 9,356 #707
2014 modern 9,368 #709
2015 modern 9,195 #713
2016 modern 9,111 #719

Geography

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Where Sutcliffes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Halifax, 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 Calderdale. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Calderdale 013 Calderdale
2 Calderdale 007 Calderdale
3 Calderdale 022 Calderdale
4 Calderdale 004 Calderdale
5 Calderdale 027 Calderdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sutcliffe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sutcliffe

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Sutcliffe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sutcliffe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sutcliffe is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sutcliffe is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sutcliffe 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 Sutcliffe 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 Sutcliffe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sutcliffe

The surname Sutcliffe originates from the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is an English locational surname derived from the Old English words 'suth' meaning 'south' and 'clif' meaning 'cliff' or 'slope'. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a southern cliff or slope.

Sutcliffe is an ancient surname with records dating back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known references is found in the Yorkshire Feet of Fines from 1273, where a John de Sutclyve is mentioned. Another early record is in the Wakefield Court Rolls of 1275, which includes a William de Sutclyve.

The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain the Sutcliffe surname itself, as it predates the formation of most hereditary surnames. However, it does include various place names that may have later evolved into the surname, such as Sutcliffe in Yorkshire.

In the 16th century, the surname was often spelled as Sutcliff, Sutclyffe, or Sutclyfffe. During this period, notable individuals with the name included Robert Sutcliffe, a 16th-century English clergyman, and Matthew Sutcliffe (1550-1629), an English theologian and academic.

In the 17th century, John Sutcliffe (1597-1672) was an English Puritan clergyman and religious writer. Another notable figure was Thomas Sutcliffe (1599-1668), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament.

One of the most famous Sutcliffes was Sir Thomas Sutcliffe (1770-1835), a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was knighted for his service. In more recent times, David Sutcliffe (born 1940) was a British actor known for his roles in television and films.

Throughout history, the Sutcliffe surname has been associated with various locations across northern England, including Sutcliffe Woodhouses in Yorkshire, Sutcliffe Vale in Lancashire, and Sutcliffe Hill in West Yorkshire. The name has also been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting its enduring presence in British society over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sutcliffe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sutcliffe 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. Yorkshire leads with 7,010 Sutcliffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.13x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 7,010 6.13x
Lancashire 4,032 2.94x
Cheshire 157 0.62x
Middlesex 101 0.09x
Surrey 86 0.15x
Staffordshire 48 0.12x
Derbyshire 38 0.21x
Durham 38 0.11x
Kent 29 0.07x
Lincolnshire 27 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 24 0.15x
Devon 20 0.08x
Northumberland 20 0.12x
Warwickshire 19 0.07x
Essex 16 0.07x
Somerset 14 0.08x
Norfolk 12 0.07x
Suffolk 12 0.09x
Cumberland 11 0.11x
Hampshire 10 0.04x
Lanarkshire 9 0.02x
Gloucestershire 8 0.04x
Huntingdonshire 8 0.35x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 0.42x
Sussex 7 0.04x
Glamorgan 6 0.03x
Hertfordshire 6 0.08x
Northamptonshire 6 0.06x
Ayrshire 5 0.06x
Carmarthenshire 5 0.10x
Westmorland 5 0.20x
Wiltshire 5 0.05x
Midlothian 4 0.03x
Leicestershire 3 0.02x
Stirlingshire 3 0.07x
Bedfordshire 2 0.03x
Channel Islands 2 0.06x
Dorset 2 0.03x
Herefordshire 2 0.04x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.08x
Perthshire 2 0.04x
Royal Navy 2 0.15x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.02x
Denbighshire 1 0.02x
Isle of Man 1 0.05x
Worcestershire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stansfield in Yorkshire leads with 562 Sutcliffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 133.56x.

Place Total Index
Stansfield 562 133.56x
Halifax 467 27.82x
Ovenden 343 67.40x
Castleton 295 21.57x
Bradford 292 10.55x
Sowerby In Halifax 292 78.10x
Todmorden Walsden 291 79.33x
Northowram 285 35.55x
Langfield 277 138.46x
Burnley 254 22.03x
Heptonstall 245 152.71x
Oldham 242 5.48x
Spotland 224 14.71x
Wadsworth 217 116.59x
Warley 210 63.54x
Newchurch 191 17.05x
Leeds 162 2.51x
Manningham 162 11.50x
Horton In Bradford 156 8.74x
Elland Cum Greetland 151 29.31x
Butterworth 145 43.46x
Habergham Eaves 142 11.35x
Stainland Cum Old 139 71.03x
Huddersfield 130 7.80x
Soyland 124 90.39x
Accrington 117 9.40x
Midgley 115 94.38x
Erringden 113 152.99x
Skircoat 113 25.06x
Southowram 103 29.51x
Thornton In Bradford 100 26.27x
Bowling 97 8.56x
Ashton Under Lyne 90 3.01x
Manchester 89 1.45x
Great Little Marsden 88 14.03x
Hunslet 88 4.94x
Pudsey 83 13.58x
Crompton 82 21.03x
Blatchinworth 79 25.34x
Rastrick 79 24.87x
Haworth 73 26.86x
Wardleworth 69 8.82x
Barnsley 64 5.43x
Haslingden 61 10.76x
North Bierley 61 9.88x
Bury 59 3.77x
Higher Booths 58 23.50x
Blackburn 56 1.54x
Hipperholme Cum 54 10.75x
Wuerdle Wardle 54 12.99x
Keighley 52 4.27x
Mirfield 50 7.96x
Royton 50 11.94x
Clayton 49 17.51x
Preston 48 1.31x
Shipley 46 7.75x
Bingley 45 6.18x
Calverley Cum Farsley 45 13.86x
Lower Booths 45 18.34x
Barrowford Booth 43 28.38x
Salford 40 0.99x
Idle 37 6.98x
Layton With Warbreck 35 6.97x
Broughton In Salford 34 2.72x
Chadderton 34 5.08x
Beswick 33 9.42x
Great Bolton 33 1.82x
Liverpool 33 0.40x
Newington 33 0.77x
Norland 32 40.77x
Lepton 30 25.12x
Yeadon 30 11.62x
Bradford Girlington 29 56.74x
Foulridge 29 83.24x
Headingley Cum Burley 29 3.94x
Horsforth 29 11.57x
Hulme 29 1.01x
Kirkburton 29 21.51x
Clitheroe 28 6.95x
Drighlington 27 16.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 984
Sarah 656
Elizabeth 423
Hannah 325
Ann 237
Martha 223
Emma 201
Alice 193
Jane 191
Annie 157
Ellen 155
Emily 121
Betty 104
Eliza 103
Margaret 97
Grace 90
Harriet 83
Ada 74
Clara 74
Edith 61
Betsy 58
Susannah 57
Maria 50
Ruth 50
Lucy 47
Florence 42
Louisa 41
Fanny 39
Susan 36
Isabella 34
Catherine 31
Amelia 30
Nancy 30
Anne 28
Frances 28
Esther 27
Elizth. 21
Rachel 21
Ethel 20
Rebecca 20
Agnes 19
Sally 19
Sophia 19
Bertha 18
Kate 18
Lydia 18
Matilda 18
Charlotte 17
Minnie 17
Selina 17

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 827
William 534
James 449
Thomas 350
Joseph 259
George 184
Robert 156
Henry 153
Arthur 120
Samuel 116
Fred 113
Charles 107
Harry 89
Albert 74
Richard 74
Herbert 69
Walter 69
Alfred 67
Edward 56
Abraham 49
Frank 48
Wm. 46
Benjamin 43
David 40
Ernest 38
Willie 38
Edwin 36
Sam 34
Tom 34
Daniel 30
Frederick 29
Eli 27
Thos. 27
Isaac 25
Joe 22
Joshua 20
Francis 19
Mark 19
Wright 19
Jas. 17
Greenwood 15
Hartley 15
Enoch 14
Job 14
Jonas 14
Lewis 14
Peter 14
Stephen 14
Jonathan 13
Percy 12

FAQ

Sutcliffe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sutcliffe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 11,839 people were recorded with the Sutcliffe surname. That placed it at #361 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sutcliffe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,111 in 2016. That gives Sutcliffe a modern rank of #719.

What does the Sutcliffe surname mean?

From the Old English elements "sūð" (south) and "clif" (cliff), referring to someone who lived near a southern cliff.

What does the Sutcliffe map show?

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