Nethercliffe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Nethercliffe

What does the name Nethercliffe mean?

The Nethercliffe surname is derived from the Middle English words "nether(e)," meaning "lower," and "cot," meaning "cottage." It was most likely a habitational name created from any of several places so named; such as Nethercott in Oxfordshire, Nethercote in Warwickshire, or Nethercott in Devon.

Early Origins of the Nethercliffe family

The surname Nethercliffe was first found in Northampton and Oxfordshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1208 when Ern de Nethercot held estates in Oxfordshire.

Early History of the Nethercliffe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nethercliffe research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1263, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Nethercliffe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nethercliffe Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Nethercliffe family name include Nethery, Nethercott, Nethercoat, Nethercott and others.

Early Notables of the Nethercliffe family

More information is included under the topic Early Nethercliffe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nethercliffe migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Nethercliffe surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Nethercliffe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Nethercliffe, who arrived in America in 1733
William Nethercliffe, who settled in America in 1752