UK surname
An English surname derived from the Anglo-Saxon words "suth" meaning south and "lēah" meaning meadow or field.
In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Sutliffe surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #30,872 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Kirkheaton and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sutliffe is 223 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 52.6%.
1881 census count
19
Ranked #30,872
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1861
223 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sutliffe surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sutliffe surname density by area, 1861 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 | 83 | #19,181 |
| 1861 | historical | 223 | #10,942 |
| 1881 | historical | 19 | #30,872 |
| 1891 | historical | 91 | #25,239 |
| 1901 | historical | 80 | #25,251 |
| 1911 | historical | 33 | #29,703 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 13 | #36,679 |
| 1999 | modern | 12 | #36,806 |
| 2000 | modern | 11 | #36,879 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 12 | #36,835 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 9 | #37,614 |
| 2013 | modern | 10 | #37,539 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Kirkheaton, Manchester, 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 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Kirkheaton | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 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 Sutliffe 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 Sutliffe, 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 Sutliffe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sutliffe 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, Sutliffe 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 Sutliffe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sutliffe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Sutliffe is of English origin, and its earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the late 12th century in Yorkshire. The name is derived from the Old English words "suth" and "liffe," meaning "south" and "ridge" or "slope," respectively. It was likely initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived on or near a southern slope or ridge.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was a William de Sutliffe, who was mentioned in the Yorkshire Feet of Fines records in 1195. This document recorded the transfer of land ownership, suggesting that the Sutliffe family may have held land in the area during this period.
The Sutliffe surname is also found in various historical records, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sutlef" and "Sutelif." These variations in spelling were common during the Middle Ages before standardized spelling emerged.
In the 16th century, the name appeared in the form "Soutcliffe" in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, further indicating its association with the region. During this time, the Sutliffe family was well-established in areas like Todmorden and Hebden Bridge, where they were involved in the local wool trade.
Notable individuals with the Sutliffe surname include:
1. John Sutliffe (1608-1694), an English Protestant divine and academic, born in Hertfordshire. 2. Robert Sutliffe (1707-1788), an English clergyman and naturalist, known for his work on the flora and fauna of Derbyshire. 3. Joseph Sutliffe (1788-1872), an English Wesleyan minister and author, born in Yorkshire. 4. Thomas Sutliffe (1832-1898), an English artist and illustrator, known for his landscape paintings and illustrations for books. 5. Thomas Edward Sutliffe (1868-1937), an English businessman and politician who served as a Conservative Member of Parliament for the Yorkshire constituency of Sowerby.
The Sutliffe surname has also been associated with several place names, such as Sutliffe Bridge in West Yorkshire and Sutliffe Woodlands, a nature reserve in Halifax, further reflecting the family's historical ties to the region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sutliffe 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. Lancashire leads with 8 Sutliffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.64x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 8 | 3.64x |
| Sussex | 4 | 12.81x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 2.18x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 3.10x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.58x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 3.38x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire leads with 6 Sutliffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 769.23x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Oswaldtwistle | 6 | 769.23x |
| Brighton | 4 | 63.49x |
| Reeth | 3 | 6000.00x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 28.65x |
| Gillingham | 1 | 76.92x |
| Manchester | 1 | 10.12x |
| St Michael Lincoln | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Swansea Lower | 1 | 625.00x |
| Tadcaster West | 1 | 666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sutliffe 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 Sutliffe 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 Sutliffe households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Cotton Weaver | 2 |
| Artist Painter | 1 |
| Collier | 1 |
| Dp Asst Commissay Gen Of Ordinance | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Nurse (Sub W) | 1 |
| Pauper Inmate | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| School Master | 1 |
| School Mistress | 1 |
| School Pupil Teacher | 1 |
| Silkwinder | 1 |
| Stripper & Grinder | 1 |
| Warehouseman Cotton | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Sutliffe surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Sutliffe a modern rank of #37,705.
An English surname derived from the Anglo-Saxon words "suth" meaning south and "lēah" meaning meadow or field.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sutliffe 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.