The Radcliffe surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 5,948 people carried this name — #5,812 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 49,500 people counted. About the same as in 2000 (5,976).

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What the name means

The meaning of the Radcliffe surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley explains it as ‘of Radcliffe’.

An early record he cites: Willelmus de Radclif, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 632 · public domain.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

In 1790, Radcliffe was counted together with Ratcliff: 76 families in all.

Each family is counted by its head. About 424 people lived in those households, 5.6 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: Ratcliff, Rackleff, Rackliffe, Ractliff, Radcliff, Radcliffe, Radclift, Raddcliff, Radlif, Radliff, Ratclif, Ratcliffe, Ratclift. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Virginia 24
Maryland 18
South Carolina 12
New York 6
North Carolina 5
Pennsylvania 4
Maine 3
Massachusetts 3
New Hampshire 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 258 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Radcliffe in American newspapers,
1901–1911.

Newspaper page from The Mirror And Farmer carrying the name Radcliffe
The Mirror And Farmer 1901-09-26
Newspaper page from The Commoner carrying the name Radcliffe
The Commoner 1905-09-15
Newspaper page from The Birmingham Age-herald carrying the name Radcliffe
The Birmingham Age-herald 1911-03-12

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 952 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Radcliffe in Australian newspapers,
1820s–1980s.

12,948 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Radcliffe. The most, 2,411, date from the 1930s. Queensland has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Australian Capital Territory, at 1.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 3,346
Victoria 3,314
New South Wales 3,087
South Australia 1,612
Tasmania 780
Western Australia 611
ACT (Canberra) 150
Northern Territory 13

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Radcliffe.

Who carried it

People named Radcliffe,
with a public archive behind them.

  • J. B. Radcliffe
    J. B. Radcliffe d. 1908 · actor
  • Elizabeth Radcliffe d. 1855 · photographer
  • Ralph Radcliffe d. 1432 · politician
  • Ralph Radcliffe d. 1406 · politician
  • Alexander Radcliffe d. 1617 · politician
  • Thomas Radcliffe d. 1586 · politician

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Radcliffe,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States786 records

786 records of the Radcliffe name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 223
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 189
  • Other U.S. records 374
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record John C. Radcliffe

    Born 1911 in Illinois. Enlisted 1942 at Chicago; telegraph operator from Cook County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1998, buried at Mauston Cemetery, Wisconsin.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record James C. Radcliffe

    Born 1921 in Kentucky. Enlisted 1942 at Evansville, Indiana; farm hand from Livingston County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1998, buried at Chesterton Cemetery, Indiana.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Hannah Radcliffe

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Adriatic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 18; weaver. From Cheshire, England; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 786 records for Radcliffe in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia585 records

585 records of the Radcliffe name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 327
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 88
  • Other Australian records 170
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Susan Mary Radcliffe

    Born 1844 in Spring Bay, Tasmania. Died 1880 in New Norfolk, Tasmania, aged 35.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Henry Radcliffe

    Arrived in Victoria in 1857 aboard the David G Fleming, aged 23; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Samuel Radcliffe

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Fortune, arriving 1813; certificate of freedom 1824.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 585 records for Radcliffe in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

New Zealand39 records

39 records of the Radcliffe name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 30
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 5
  • Other New Zealand records 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Charles Edward Radcliffe

    Died 1925, aged 78; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jack William Radcliffe

    Died 1995, aged 74; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record C. H. Radcliffe

    New Zealand Machine Gun Corps. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 39 records for Radcliffe in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

United Kingdom36 records

36 records of the Radcliffe name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 24
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 8
  • Welsh wills index cards 4
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Margaret Nettie Radcliffe

    Will proved in 1936; of Old Colwyn, Denbigh.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Frances Radcliffe

    Buried in 1818 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 21.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record G. Radcliffe

    Royal Engineers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 36 records for Radcliffe in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Canada33 records

33 records of the Radcliffe name in Canada
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 7
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 7
  • Other Canadian records 19
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Claire Musgrave Radcliffe

    Buried in 1978 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 79.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Frederick Ernest Radcliffe

    Died 1995, aged 70; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Jennifer Susan Radcliffe

    Died 1972 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 33 records for Radcliffe in Canada.

Counts: Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Netherlands16 records

16 records of the Radcliffe name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 10
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 6
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Elizabeth Jane Radcliffe

    Died 1927 in Rotterdam, aged 79.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Sarah Radcliffe

    Died 1939 in 's-Gravenhage, aged 80.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Dorothy Ethel Radcliffe

    Married in 1925 in Sint Marylebone (Londen).

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 16 records for Radcliffe in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France2 records

2 records of the Radcliffe name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Cyril Gordon Radcliffe

    Born 1911 in Ashton under Lyne (Angleterre); died 2000 in Avignon (Vaucluse).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Barbara Radcliffe

    Born 1921 in Great Britain; died 1997 in Cagnes-sur-Mer (Alpes-Maritimes).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Radcliffe.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Radcliffe is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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