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Cunliffe Family History

Cunliffe Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire): habitational name from a place in Lancashire near Rishton recorded in 1246 as Kunteclive.

It originates from Old English cunte ‘cunt’ + clif ‘slope’.

The name literally means ‘slope with a slit or crack in it’.

This etymology reflects the geographical features of the area during that time.

Such place names often provide insights into the landscape and societal context of their origins.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Cunliffe family from?

You can see how Cunliffe families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cunliffe family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cunliffe families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 3,403 Cunliffe families living in Lancashire. This was about 83% of all the recorded Cunliffe's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Cunliffe families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cunliffe surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Cunliffe ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Cunliffe. 10% of Cunliffe men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Cunliffe women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cunliffe were Cotton Weaver and Private Means.

View Census Data for Cunliffe | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    10%
  • Colliery Hewer
    6%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Cotton Weaver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Cotton Weaver
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Cunliffe family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 49,000 census records available for the last name Cunliffe. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cunliffe census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cunliffe

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Cunliffe. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Cunliffe immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Cunliffe. For the veterans among your Cunliffe ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cunliffe military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cunliffe family history

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What is the average Cunliffe lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Cunliffe life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Cunliffe in 1955 was 41, and 69 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cunliffe

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Cunliffe ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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