Clifford
What is the origin of the last name Clifford?
Meaning and origin
The last name Clifford derives from an English surname which originated as a habitational name for individuals who lived near or on a cliff or slope. Its genealogical roots can be traced back to medieval England where the name was first recorded, and it continues to be a popular surname today.
The longer story
The last name *Clifford* is a name of English origin. It is derived from a place name, referring to someone who lived near a steep slope or bank. The etymology of the name can be traced back to the Old English words 'clif' meaning "cliff" and 'ford' meaning "ford" or "crossing."
As a surname, *Clifford* has a long history, with records of its usage dating back to the 11th century. The name was originally spelled as *CLIFORD* and gradually evolved to its present form over time.
The *Clifford* family also held the title of Lord *Clifford* of Chudleigh, an ancient peerage in the English nobility.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#1,618
Clifford was the 1,618th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 22,245 people, about 7.2 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Clifford
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Clifford is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.