Show ContentsHinchcliff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Hinchcliff comes from the family having resided at Hinchcliff, now named Hinchliffe Mill, a spot in the township of Austonley, close to Holmtorth in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The name was derived from the Old English phrase "henge-clif" meaning "steep cliff." 1 2

Early Origins of the Hinchcliff family

The surname Hinchcliff was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire where one of the first records of the name was John de Hengeclif who was listed in the Court Rolls of the Manor or Wakefield in 1324. Agnes de Hingeclif was listed in the same reference but a few years later in 1327. The Register of Freeman in York list William Hynsecliff in 1485 and Henry Hensceclyf in 1552. John Hyncheclyffe was listed in Sheffield in 1441 and so was John Hinchliffe in 1633. 3 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Johannes de Hyncheclyff; Willelmus de Hynchecliff; and Ricardus de Hynchecliff. 2

Early History of the Hinchcliff family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hinchcliff research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1170 is included under the topic Early Hinchcliff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hinchcliff Spelling Variations

Hinchcliff has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Hinchcliffe, Hinchliffe, Hinchcliff, Hincliffe, Henchcliff and many more.

Early Notables of the Hinchcliff family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Hinchcliffe of Hinchcliffe Hall


United States Hinchcliff migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Hinchcliffs to arrive on North American shores:

Hinchcliff Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Sarah and Thomas Hinchcliff, who settled in Philadelphia in 1820
  • Joseph and Ely Hinchcliff, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1824
  • Joseph Hinchcliff, who settled in Philadelphia in 1840
  • Josua Hinchcliff, who settled in Newcastle Del. in 1854
  • James Hinchcliff, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1871

Contemporary Notables of the name Hinchcliff (post 1700) +

  • Will Hinchcliff (b. 1969), former American CFL football wide receiver for the BC Lions (1992–1993), Saskatchewan Roughriders (1995), London Monarchs (1996) and the Ottawa Rough Riders (1996)
  • Kenneth Hinchcliff Ph.D., American Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Ohio State University
  • Richard F Hinchcliff, American criminal attorney
  • John Elley Hinchcliff (1777-1867), English sculptor who became the chief assistant in the studio of John Flaxman, R.A. and worked in that capacity for about twenty years 4
  • Woodbine K Hinchcliff, British artist


  1. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020


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