Cutcliffe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Cutcliffe

What does the name Cutcliffe mean?

The surname Cutcliffe belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. It is thought that this name is derived from one of the following place names: Concliff, county Lancashire, or Catcliffe, a small hamlet in West Yorkshire near Rotherham.

Early Origins of the Cutcliffe family

The surname Cutcliffe was first found in Yorkshire where early records mention Robert de Cundeclif, in the Rotuli Hundredorum in 1246, Thomas Cunclyff in 1411 in the register of the Freemen in the City of York, as well as Joan Cutloff, in Yorkshire in 1512. 1

John Cutcliffe, Roquetaillade or De Rupescissa (fl. 1345), was a early Franciscan, a native of Gammage (or, as it should be, Dammage) in the parish of Ilfracombe in Devonshire. "The manor of Dammage is mentioned as having been long the seat of the family of Cutcliffe." 2

We also found this interesting entry for presumably another John Cutcliffe, or perhaps one in the same, but the dates are confusing: "Considering the antiquity of Ilfracombe, [Devon] its personal relations are singularly scant. Its one notable is John Cutcliffe, whose name was Latinized into Johannes de Rupecissa, a reforming friar of the fourteenth century. He was born at Damage Farm in 1340, and died in prison at Avignon, where he had been cast for his opinions. He was a man of great earnestness and learning, but the

influence of his labours and writings, as a contemporary of Wyclif, were chiefly confined to the Continent. " 3

Early History of the Cutcliffe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cutcliffe research. More information is included under the topic Early Cutcliffe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cutcliffe Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Cutcliffe, Cutliff, Cutcliff,Cutclif,Cutliff and many more.

Early Notables of the Cutcliffe family

Colonel Cutcliffe of Webbery, Devon, who bore a coat of arms

Migration of the Cutcliffe family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: William Cutcliff, who arrived in Maryland in 1774; as well as Francis, William and Bridget Cutcliffe, who were all recorded in the 1891 Census of Prince Edward Island..

Contemporary Notables of the name Cutcliffe (post 1700) +

Brad Cutcliffe, American modern Classical music composer
David Cutcliffe (b. 1954), American football coach for the University of Mississippi and the University of Tennessee
F Wayne Cutcliffe, Associate Professor at the University of PEI

The Cutcliffe 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: Fingit premendo
Motto Translation: He builds by discipline.

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital