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Sutcliffe Family History

Sutcliffe Surname Meaning

English (Yorkshire and Lancashire): habitational name from Sutcliff Wood in Brighouse (Yorkshire) from Old English sūth ‘south southern’.

This name combines the geographical term with a description of the landscape.

The component cliff refers to a steep bank, indicating the area's terrain.

Such names often denote a specific location or feature significant to the local geography.

Overall, Sutcliff encapsulates both a sense of place and the natural environment of the region.

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


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Where is the Sutcliffe family from?

You can see how Sutcliffe families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sutcliffe family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Sutcliffe families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 7,562 Sutcliffe families living in Yorkshire. This was about 61% of all the recorded Sutcliffe's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Sutcliffe families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sutcliffe 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 Sutcliffe ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Cotton Weaver and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Sutcliffe. 8% of Sutcliffe men worked as a Cotton Weaver and 64% of Sutcliffe women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sutcliffe were Retired and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Sutcliffe | 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

  • Cotton Weaver
    8%
  • General Labourer
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
  • Retired
    2%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    64%
  • Cotton Weaver
    4%
  • Private Means
    2%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Sutcliffe family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 270,000 census records available for the last name Sutcliffe. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sutcliffe census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Sutcliffe

Passenger Lists

There are 25,000 immigration records available for the last name Sutcliffe. 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 Sutcliffe immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 9,000 military records available for the last name Sutcliffe. For the veterans among your Sutcliffe ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sutcliffe military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sutcliffe family history

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What is the average Sutcliffe lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Sutcliffe life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Sutcliffe in 1944 was 36, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sutcliffe

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Sutcliffe 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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