Conliffe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Conliffe is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when a family lived in the settlement of Concliff in the county of Lancashire. The surname Conliffe belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. The name in Anglo Saxon meant "War love."

Early Origins of the Conliffe family

The surname Conliffe was first found in Lancashire where Nicholas le Cumbecliue was first listed in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246. 1 The name traces back to Cundcliff, now known as Cunliffe Hill, in the township of Billington, near Blackburn in Lancashire. 2 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 - 1276 list Robert de Cundeclif in Yorkshire. 1 2

A few years later Adam de Cunliffe was listed in Yorkshire 1317-1318. 2 The Register of Freemen of the City of York in 1411 lists Thomas Cunclyff. 1

Early History of the Conliffe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Conliffe research. Another 284 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1611, 1750, 1790, 1820 and 1871 are included under the topic Early Conliffe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Conliffe Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Conliffe family name include Cunliffe, Cuncliffe, Concliffe, Conliffe, Cunlife, Conlife, Cunliff, Conliff and many more.

Early Notables of the Conliffe family

More information is included under the topic Early Conliffe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Conliffe migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Conliffe surname or a spelling variation of the name include :

Conliffe Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Edith StClair Conliffe, aged 28, originally from Barbados, W. I., arrived in New York in 1909 aboard the ship "Justin" from Manaos, Para, Barbados 3
Evan McGregor Conliffe, aged 26, originally from Kingston, Jamaica, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Vestnorge" from Kingston, Jamaica 3
Hellena Conliffe, aged 35, originally from P.O. Spain, Trinidad, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Matura" from Port of Spain, Trinidad 3

The Conliffe Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fideliter
Motto Translation: Faithfully.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result