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Ratcliffe Family History

Ratcliffe Surname Meaning

English: variant of Ratliff.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Ratcliffe family from?

You can see how Ratcliffe families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ratcliffe family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ratcliffe families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 3,721 Ratcliffe families living in Lancashire. This was about 42% of all the recorded Ratcliffe's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Ratcliffe families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ratcliffe 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 Ratcliffe 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 Ratcliffe. 9% of Ratcliffe men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Ratcliffe women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ratcliffe were Cotton Weaver and Housewife.

View Census Data for Ratcliffe | 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
    9%
  • Bricklayer
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Cotton Weaver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Cotton Weaver
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Ratcliffe family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 133,000 census records available for the last name Ratcliffe. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ratcliffe census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ratcliffe

Passenger Lists

There are 11,000 immigration records available for the last name Ratcliffe. 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 Ratcliffe immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 12,000 military records available for the last name Ratcliffe. For the veterans among your Ratcliffe ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ratcliffe military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ratcliffe family history

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What is the average Ratcliffe lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Ratcliffe life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Ratcliffe in 1944 was 28, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ratcliffe

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ratcliffe 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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