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Ratcliff Family History

Ratcliff Surname Meaning

English: variant of Ratliff.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Ratcliff family from?

You can see how Ratcliff families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ratcliff family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ratcliff families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 180 Ratcliff families living in London. This was about 12% of all the recorded Ratcliff's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Ratcliff families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ratcliff 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 Ratcliff ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Ratcliff. 8% of Ratcliff men worked as a Bricklayer and 74% of Ratcliff women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ratcliff were Builders Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Ratcliff | 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

  • Bricklayer
    8%
  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Gardener
    6%
  • Builders Labourer
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%

What Ratcliff family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 69,000 census records available for the last name Ratcliff. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ratcliff census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ratcliff

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Ratcliff. 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 Ratcliff immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 10,000 military records available for the last name Ratcliff. For the veterans among your Ratcliff ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ratcliff military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ratcliff family history

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What is the average Ratcliff lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Ratcliff life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1988. The average life expectancy for Ratcliff in 1941 was 43, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ratcliff

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ratcliff 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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