Cliffe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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The surname Cliffe is derived from the Old English word "clif," which means cliff, rock, or steep descent. It is thought to have been a name used for someone who lived near a sloping cliff or the bank of a river. As such, the surname Cliffe belongs to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees.

Early Origins of the Cliffe family

The surname Cliffe was first found in Shropshire and Cheshire. The latter county "in the hundred of Northwich, is Clive, from whence their ancestor Warin assumed his name in the time of Henry II. About the reign of Edward II the family removed to Huxley, also in Cheshire, Henry de Clive having married the co-heiress. " 1

The Shropshire branch claim descent from the village and civil parish so named. "James Clive with the heiress of Styche, of Styche, they settled in Shropshire at that place, which is in the parish of Moreton-Say, and has remained uninterruptedly in the Clive family." 1

Henry de Cliff (d. 1334), the English judge, "is first mentioned as accompanying the king abroad in May 1313; and on 11 May 1317, as a master in chancery, he had charge of the great seal at the house of the Lord Chancellor, John de Sandale, Bishop of Winchester. There is another master in chancery in Edward II's reign of the same name, probably a brother. " 2

Early History of the Cliffe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cliffe research. Another 138 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1514, 1522, 1523, 1526, 1529, 1532, 1558, 1711, 1725, 1728, 1729, 1731, 1734, 1767 and 1774 are included under the topic Early Cliffe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cliffe Spelling Variations

There are relatively few surnames native to Wales, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. Early variations of Welsh surnames can be explained by the fact that very few people in the early Middle Ages were literate. Priests and the few other literate people were responsible for recording names in official documents. And because most people could not specific how to properly record their names it was up to the individual recorder of that time to determine how a spoken name should be recorded. Variations due to the imprecise or improper recording of a name continued later in history when names originally composed in the Brythonic Celtic, language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, were transliterated into English. Welsh names that were documented in English often changed dramatically since the native language of Wales, which was highly inflected, did not copy well. Occasionally, however, spelling variations were carried out according to an individual's specific design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by minor variations. The spelling variations of the name Cliffe have included Cliffe, Cliff, Clive, Cleeves, Cleave, Cleaves and many more.

Early Notables of the Cliffe family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was William Clyffe (d. 1558), English divine, educated at Cambridge, where he graduated LL.B. in 1514, was admitted advocate at Doctors' Commons on 16 Dec. 1522, graduated LL.D. in 1523, was commissary of the diocese of London between 1522 and 1529. In 1526, he was appointed Archdeacon of London and three years later, Prebendary of Fenton in the church of York in 1532. 2 Catherine Clive, daughter of William Raftor, an Irish gentleman, was born in London in 1711. Displaying a natural aptitude for...
Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cliffe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cliffe migration to the United States +

Many Welsh families joined their Scottish and Irish neighbors during the late 1800s and early 1900s in seeking refuge in North America. Like the Irish and Scottish, many Welsh anxiously awaited the work, freedom, and opportunities that they believed lay in North America. Those who did journey over to the United States and what became known as Canada often realized those dreams, but only through much toil and perseverance. Whenever and however these Welsh immigrants arrived in North America, they were instrumental in the creation of the industry, commerce, and cultural heritage within those two developing nations. In the immigration and passenger lists a number of early immigrants bearing the name Cliffe were found:

Cliffe Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Nich Cliffe, who landed in Virginia in 1638 3
Mary Cliffe, who arrived in Virginia in 1665-1666 3
Robert Cliffe, who landed in Virginia in 1665-1666 3
Robert Cliffe, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1684 3

Cliffe migration to Australia +

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

Cliffe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Cliffe, (b. 1784), aged 29, English waterman who was convicted in Staffordshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
Mr. John Cliffe, (b. 1809), aged 19, English cooper who was convicted in WEst Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 29th April 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1829 when he was shot by a constable 5
Mr. John Cliffe, English convict who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st September 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. Joseph Cliffe, (b. 1799), aged 41, British Ploughman who was convicted in York, England for 10 years for stealing sheep, transported aboard the "Asia" on 25th April 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1840 7
Mrs. Ann Cliffe, (b. 1820), aged 33, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Parsee" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 17th January 1853 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cliffe 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:

Cliffe Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Edward Cliffe, aged 28, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Apelles" in 1874

Cliffe migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 9

Cliffe Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. George Cliffe, (b. 1608), aged 26, British settler travelling from London, UK arriving in St Christopher (St. Kitts) on 5th January 1634 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Cliffe (post 1700) +

Jess Cliffe, American software computer game designer
Bruce Windsor Cliffe (1946-2022), New Zealand businessman and politician, Member of the New Zealand Parliament for North Shore (1990-1996)
Mr. James Andrew Cliffe M.B.E., English Manager for No Wrong Door at Stepney Road Children’s Centre for North Yorkshire County Council, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to Children and Young People 10
Michael Cliffe (1904-1964), British clothing industry worker and Member of Parliament
Louise Cliffe (b. 1985), British actress, singer, writer and model
John Cliffe Watts (1786-1873), Irish military officer and architect who designed some of the first permanent public buildings in New South Wales, Postmaster General in South Australia

The Cliffe 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: In cruce glorior
Motto Translation: I glory in the cross.