Clifford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


The history of the Clifford family name begins after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in one of the parishes by the name of Clifford in West Yorkshire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire. Of the three parishes, Clifford Chambers in Gloucestershire is the oldest, dating back to Saxon times when it was known as Clifforda in 932. By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 where all were listed, the parishes were registered as either Cliford or Clifort. 1

Early Origins of the Clifford family

The surname Clifford was first found in Herefordshire at Clifford, a village and civil parish on the south bank of the River Wye which dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Cliford. Clifford Castle which is located there is an early motte and bailey castle built on a cliff overlooking a ford on the River Wye in 1070 by William Fitzpond. His heir forfeited the lands and castle after and unsuccessful rebellion against the King in 1075. Walter Fitz Richard later took the name of Walter de Clifford after he seized the Castle c. 1162. Walter de Clifford III, grandson of Walter Fitz Richard rebelled against King Henry III in 1233 and was forced to surrender to the king after just a few days of a besiege. He made his peace with the king and led his troops against Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth.

While the family claim descent from the Herefordshire village, Clifford is a small village in the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire; and Clifford Chambers is a village two miles south of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire (formerly in Gloucestershire.)

Part of the reason there is more than one location so named is that the literally the name means "ford at a cliff or bank" from the Old English words "clif" + "ford." 2

The market-town and parish of Skipton in the West Riding of Yorkshire is or particular significance to the family. The district was still strongly held by the Saxons after the Conquest until Edward II. bestowed the lands to one of his favourites Piers de Gaveston. "Upon the death of Gaveston, the barony of Skipton was granted by Edward II. to Robert, Lord Clifford, whose descendant John de Clifford, taking part with the Lancastrians in the wars between the houses of York and Lancaster, suffered an attainder in the reign of Edward IV., who conferred the barony on Sir Wm. Stanley. This attainder, however, was reversed on the accession of Henry VII., when Henry de Clifford, who for nearly twenty-five years had lived in concealment among the fells in Cumberland, was reinstated in his possessions, and created Earl of Cumberland. He held a principal command in the English army at the battle of Flodden-Field; and was succeeded after his death by his son Henry, who, for his signal services in suppressing the rebellion called the Pilgrimage of Grace, received from Henry VIII. a grant of the extensive revenues of Bolton Abbey." 3

The barony continued in the Clifford family till the death of George, the seventeenth Baron of Clifford, and third earl of Cumberland, who died in 1605. The ancient castle, for many generations the residence of the Cliffords, is a spacious quadrangular structure, defended at the angles and on the sides by massive circular towers, with an octangular tower at the extremity of the eastern side, built by the first Earl of Cumberland." 3

"[Hopton Castle in Shropshire] was distinguished for its castle, which was given by Henry II. to Walter de Clifford, and which, during the parliamentary war, was garrisoned by the royalists, but after a fortnight's siege was surrendered to the assailants, when most of the garrison were put to the sword, and the governor was conveyed as a prisoner to Ludlow Castle." 3

Now in ruins, the castle was featured in the British TV series Time Team in 2010 and as of November 2008, the Hopton Castle Preservation Trust has taken ownership.

Early History of the Clifford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clifford research. Another 157 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1068, 1274, 1314, 1493, 1513, 1517, 1523, 1542, 1558, 1570, 1605, 1622, 1630, 1660, 1663, 1670, 1671, 1672, 1673, 1677, 1698, 1700, 1730, 1732, 1816 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Clifford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clifford Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Clifford, Cliffort, Clifforde, Clifforte and others.

Early Notables of the Clifford family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Clifford World Ranking

In the United States, the name Clifford is the 1,630th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 4 However, in Australia, the name Clifford is ranked the 479th most popular surname with an estimated 7,896 people with that name. 5 And in New Zealand, the name Clifford is the 865th popular surname with an estimated 848 people with that name. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Clifford as 562nd with 11,548 people. 7

Migration of the Clifford family to Ireland

Some of the Clifford family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Clifford migration to the United States +

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Clifford name or one of its variants:

Clifford Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Clifford Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Clifford Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Clifford migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Clifford Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Clifford migration to Australia +

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

Clifford Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Clifford 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:

Clifford Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Clifford (post 1700) +


The Clifford 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: Semper paratus
Motto Translation: Always prepared.


Suggested Readings for the name Clifford +
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