History of your Surname
Get access to Cliff family records.Start a free trial

Cliff Family History

Cliff Name Meaning

English: habitational name from any of numerous places called Cliff(e) Cle(e)ve or Clive from Old English clif ‘slope bank cliff’ or a topographic name from the same word. The Old English word was used not only in the sense of modern English cliff but also of much gentler slopes and frequently also of a riverbank or seashore.

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


Similar surnames: Aliff, Clive, Oliff, Iliff, Clift, Clint, Griff, Califf, Cuff, Elliff

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Cliff family from?

You can see how Cliff families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cliff family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cliff families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 531 Cliff families living in Yorkshire. This was about 20% of all the recorded Cliff's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Cliff families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cliff surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Cliff 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 Cliff. 8% of Cliff men worked as a General Labourer and 70% of Cliff women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cliff were Retired and Household Duties. .

View Census Data for Cliff | 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
    8%
  • Bricklayer
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Retired
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
  • Household Duties
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Cliff family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 64,000 census records available for the last name Cliff. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cliff census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cliff

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Cliff. 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 Cliff immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 8,000 military records available for the last name Cliff. For the veterans among your Cliff ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cliff military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cliff family history

Discover More

What is the average Cliff lifespan?

Between 1954 and 2004, in the United States, Cliff life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1954, and highest in 1964. The average life expectancy for Cliff in 1954 was 26, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cliff

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Cliff family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Cliff last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial