Show ContentsTunnicliffe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Tunnicliffe family

The surname Tunnicliffe was first found in Lancashire where the family name was first referenced in the year 1246 when Henry Tunwaleclif held estates in the parish of Rochdale. However, some of the family was found at Yarlett in Staffordshire in early times. "The liberty [of Yarlett] comprises about 400 acres of land, the property of the Tunnicliff family, who reside at the Hall, a neat mansion situated on a gentle declivity." 1

Early History of the Tunnicliffe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tunnicliffe research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487 and 1603 are included under the topic Early Tunnicliffe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tunnicliffe Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dunnicliffe, Donnicliffe, Dunicliffe, Topcliffe, Tunnicliffe, Tunicliffe, Tunycliffe, Tunnacliffe, Tunacliffe, Tunicliffe, Tonacliffe, Donacliffe, Onacliffe, D'Onacliffe, Donacliffe, Doncliffe, Tunnelcliffe, Tunlecliff, Tunnicliff and many more.

Early Notables of the Tunnicliffe family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Tunnicliffe of Tunnicliffe


Australia Tunnicliffe migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Tunnicliffe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Tunnicliffe, English tailor who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years for burglary, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 11th August 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2
  • Mr. Edward Tunnicliffe, British Convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 12th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 3
  • Diana Tunnicliffe, English convict from Staffordshire, who was transported aboard the "Anna Maria" on October 4, 1851, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 4

New Zealand Tunnicliffe migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Tunnicliffe Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Tunnicliffe, aged 33, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
  • Hannah Tunnicliffe, aged 32, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
  • Henry John Tunnicliffe, aged 14, a labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
  • Sarah Tunnicliffe, aged 10, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
  • Thomas Tunnicliffe, aged 8, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Tunnicliffe (post 1700) +

  • Anna Tunnicliffe (b. 1982), American three-time gold, two-time silver and bronze medalist sailor and Olympic gold medalist
  • Ryan Tunnicliffe (b. 1992), English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Fulham
  • John Tunnicliffe (b. 1866), English footballer who played in the Football League for Stoke (1891-1892)
  • John Tunnicliffe (1866-1948), English first-class cricketer who played in 472 first-class matches for Yorkshire County Cricket Club
  • Jayne Tunnicliffe (b. 1967), English actress, probably best known for her recurring character Yana Lumb in Coronation Street between 2004 and 2007
  • James Mark Tunnicliffe (b. 1989), English footballer
  • Colin John Tunnicliffe (b. 1951), English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire between 1973 and 1983
  • Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe OBE, RA (1901-1979), English artist, best known for his many paintings of birds, he spent most of his life on the Isle of Anglesey, Fellow of the Royal Academy, RSPB Gold Medal
  • William Francis "Billy" Tunnicliffe (1920-1997), English footballer who played from 1937 to 1955
  • Wayne Tunnicliffe, known as Wayne Allen, a British nightclub DJ and former radio presenter
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Royal Oak
  • Leslie H. Tunnicliffe, British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 5


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th December 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
  4. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anna Maria voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1851 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anna-maria/1851
  5. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html


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