Sutcliffe Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Sutcliffe last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Sutcliffe last name
Meaning of the Sutcliffe last name: "south cliff". Sutcliffe is an English surname from a place in the Calder Valley of Yorkshire, from Old English sūth, "south", and clif, "slope". The last name is typical of Halifax and Todmorden. Herbert Sutcliffe of Pudsey was one of England's great cricket openers.
Arms associated with the Sutcliffe name
In England younger sons added small heraldic marks to a coat of arms, so Sutcliffe relatives could differ.
Get your full Sutcliffe family history
This is only a glimpse of the Sutcliffe story. The full Sutcliffe history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Sutcliffe coat of arms. Get the full Sutcliffe report.
Sutcliffe name FAQ
What does the Sutcliffe name mean?
"south cliff". Common variants include Sutcliff, Sutliffe.
Where does the Sutcliffe surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Sutcliffe coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Sutcliffe coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).