RAWCLIFFE
Rawcliffe
Origin
Rawcliffe is a locational surname of Old English origin, from the village of Rawcliffe in Lancashire, England. The name derives from the Old English words "ra" meaning rowan tree and "clif" meaning cliff or slope, indicating someone who lived near a rowan tree on a slope or cliff.
History
The surname Rawcliffe has been recorded in England since at least the 13th century. The name was originally linked to individuals residing in or near the village of Rawcliffe in Lancashire. Over time, individuals bearing the surname Rawcliffe spread to other regions of England and further afield, leading to the surname's wider distribution.
Notable Bearers
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Henry Rawcliffe (c. 1540–1596) – An English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for various constituencies in Yorkshire during the Elizabethan era.
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Margaret Rawcliffe (1873–1955) – A British suffragette and women's rights activist who played a prominent role in the women's suffrage movement in the early 20th century.
Variants
Variants of the Rawcliffe surname include Rawcliff, Radcliffe, and Ratcliffe.
Modern Day
The Rawcliffe surname continues to be found in the United Kingdom, especially in regions with historical ties to Lancashire. It is also present in various other countries due to English migration and diaspora.
There are approximately 2,049 people named Rawcliffe in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,131st most common surname in Britain. Around 31 in a million people in Britain are named Rawcliffe.
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- Gerald
- Ian
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Thomas
Female
- Amy
- Catherine
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Julie
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Michelle
- Paula
- Sarah
- Susan
- Tracy
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.