UK surname
An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "south cliff" or "south slope."
In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Sutliff surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 45, ranked #35,162, down from #20,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hornsey St Mary, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sutliff is 105 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.0%.
1881 census count
90
Ranked #20,965
Modern count
45
2016, ranked #35,162
Peak year
1851
105 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sutliff surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sutliff surname density by area, 1851 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 | 105 | #16,618 |
| 1861 | historical | 84 | #23,058 |
| 1881 | historical | 90 | #20,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 67 | #28,424 |
| 1901 | historical | 74 | #25,958 |
| 1911 | historical | 73 | #25,541 |
| 1997 | modern | 51 | #32,545 |
| 1998 | modern | 52 | #32,732 |
| 1999 | modern | 50 | #33,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 45 | #33,526 |
| 2001 | modern | 47 | #33,219 |
| 2002 | modern | 49 | #33,377 |
| 2003 | modern | 49 | #33,456 |
| 2004 | modern | 54 | #33,248 |
| 2005 | modern | 49 | #33,859 |
| 2006 | modern | 48 | #34,245 |
| 2007 | modern | 48 | #34,488 |
| 2008 | modern | 43 | #34,931 |
| 2009 | modern | 44 | #35,028 |
| 2010 | modern | 43 | #35,233 |
| 2011 | modern | 45 | #35,112 |
| 2012 | modern | 43 | #35,224 |
| 2013 | modern | 47 | #35,071 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
| 2016 | modern | 45 | #35,162 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hornsey St Mary, London parishes, St Pancras, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Bradford. 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 | Hornsey St Mary | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| 5 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sutliff 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 Sutliff, 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 Sutliff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sutliff 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, Sutliff 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 Sutliff is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sutliff, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Sutliff originated in England during the late medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from a place called Sutliffe or Sutcliffe, which likely means "south cliff" or "southern cliff" in Old English. The earliest recorded spelling variations of this surname include Suttliffe, Sutliffe, Sutcliff, and Sutcliffe.
One of the earliest recorded references to this name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301, which mention a Richard de Sutcliffe. The Sutliff surname also appears in several Yorkshire parish records from the 16th and 17th centuries, indicating a strong historical connection to this region.
Notably, the Sutliff name is mentioned in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name's origins can be traced back to the 11th century or earlier.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the Sutliff surname. One of the earliest was John Sutliffe (c. 1592-1644), an English clergyman and author who served as the Dean of Exeter Cathedral. Another prominent figure was Robert Sutliff (1770-1845), an English Baptist minister and author who played a significant role in the Baptist missionary movement.
In the United States, one of the earliest recorded Sutliffs was Thomas Sutliff (1693-1771), who emigrated from England to New Jersey in the early 1700s. His descendants went on to establish several notable family lines across the country. Another notable American with this surname was Solomon Sutliff (1816-1890), a prosperous businessman and philanthropist from New York.
Additionally, the Sutliff name has been associated with several places and landmarks throughout history. For example, Sutcliffe Wood in Yorkshire, England, and Sutliff Bridge in Iowa, United States, both bear the name's influence.
The Sutliff surname has a rich history spanning centuries, with its origins rooted in medieval England and a strong presence in Yorkshire. Despite various spelling variations over time, the name's meaning and significance have endured, reflecting the lives and contributions of numerous individuals who have carried this surname throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sutliff 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. Leicestershire leads with 27 Sutliffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.74x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leicestershire | 27 | 27.74x |
| Yorkshire | 17 | 1.95x |
| Devon | 8 | 4.38x |
| Surrey | 8 | 1.87x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.80x |
| Cumberland | 6 | 7.94x |
| Norfolk | 5 | 3.70x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 1.67x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 2.14x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.77x |
| Essex | 2 | 1.15x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.19x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 12 Sutliffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.55x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leicester St Margaret | 12 | 50.55x |
| Leicester Black Friars | 10 | 1587.30x |
| Exeter St Sidwell | 8 | 190.93x |
| Womersley | 8 | 6666.67x |
| Crigglestone | 7 | 833.33x |
| Camberwell | 6 | 10.70x |
| Leicester St Martin | 5 | 769.23x |
| Flimby | 4 | 625.00x |
| Aldershot | 3 | 49.75x |
| Norwich St Peter | 3 | 337.08x |
| St Marylebone London | 3 | 6.40x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 4.25x |
| Sutton St Mary | 3 | 225.56x |
| Bermondsey | 2 | 7.65x |
| Cleator | 2 | 63.49x |
| Crompton | 2 | 67.34x |
| Ormesby | 2 | 85.47x |
| West Ham | 2 | 5.23x |
| Boldon | 1 | 107.53x |
| Kings Lynn St Margaret | 1 | 24.69x |
| Pelton | 1 | 80.65x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 1 | 19.84x |
| Terrington St Clement | 1 | 163.93x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sutliff surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sutliff 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 Sutliff households.
FAQ
In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Sutliff surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 45 in 2016. That gives Sutliff a modern rank of #35,162.
An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "south cliff" or "south slope."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sutliff 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.