Clifton Surname

The History of the Clifton Surname

The surname Clifton has a long and distinguished history, with roots that can be traced back to England. The name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "clif" meaning "slope" or "cliff," and "tun" meaning "settlement" or "enclosure." The combination of these two words gives us the meaning "settlement on a cliff," indicating that the original bearers of the surname likely lived near a cliff or on a slope.

Origins in England

The Clifton surname is most commonly found in England, with the highest incidence in the country. The earliest recorded instance of the Clifton surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where a man by the name of Geoffrey de Clifton was recorded as a landowner in Nottinghamshire. Over the centuries, the name spread throughout England, with Cliftons establishing themselves in various regions of the country.

Notable individuals bearing the Clifton surname in England include Sir Robert Clifton, a 17th-century Member of Parliament, and Sir Gervase Clifton, an Elizabethan courtier. The Clifton family also held the title of Baron Clifton of Leighton Bromswold, a peerage created in the 16th century.

Migration to the United States

The Clifton surname was brought to the United States by early immigrants from England. The first recorded instance of the surname in America is that of George Clifton, who arrived in Virginia in the 17th century. Since then, Cliftons have spread throughout the United States, establishing themselves in various states and making significant contributions to American society.

Today, the Clifton surname is most commonly found in the United States, with a significant number of individuals bearing the name. The incidence of the Clifton surname in the United States is high, indicating the widespread presence of Cliftons in the country.

Global Distribution

While the Clifton surname is most commonly found in England and the United States, it also has a presence in other countries around the world. The name has spread to countries such as Australia, Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand, where individuals bearing the Clifton surname have established themselves and contributed to the local communities.

Other countries with smaller populations of individuals bearing the Clifton surname include Ireland, India, Argentina, and the Netherlands. While the incidence of the surname may be lower in these countries, Cliftons have still made their mark and have become an integral part of the local populations.

Notable Individuals with the Clifton Surname

Throughout history, individuals bearing the Clifton surname have distinguished themselves in various fields and professions. From politics to the arts, Cliftons have left their mark on society and have made significant contributions to their respective fields.

Sir Gervase Clifton

Sir Gervase Clifton was an Elizabethan courtier and landowner who played a prominent role in the court of Queen Elizabeth I. He was a member of the influential Clifton family and held the title of Sir, indicating his status and importance in society.

Robert Clifton, 1st Baron Clifton

Robert Clifton, 1st Baron Clifton, was a 16th-century English peer who held the title of Baron Clifton of Leighton Bromswold. As a member of the nobility, he played a significant role in the political and social life of his time and left a lasting legacy.

George Clifton

George Clifton was one of the earliest recorded Cliftons in America, arriving in Virginia in the 17th century. He was a pioneer and settler, helping to establish the foundation of the Clifton family in the United States and paving the way for future generations of Cliftons.

Modern-Day Cliftons

Today, individuals bearing the Clifton surname can be found in a wide range of professions and industries. From business to academia, Cliftons continue to make their mark and contribute to the world in meaningful ways.

Conclusion

The Clifton surname has a rich and storied history, with roots that can be traced back to England. From its origins in the Anglo-Saxon period to its spread throughout the world, the Clifton name has become a symbol of strength, resilience, and determination. Whether in England, the United States, or other countries around the world, individuals bearing the Clifton surname have made significant contributions to society and have left a lasting legacy that will endure for generations to come.

The surname Clifton within the globe

Globalization has meant that surnames distribute far beyond their country of origin, so that it can be done to find African surnames in Europe or Indian surnames in Oceania. The same happens in the case of Clifton, which as you are able to corroborate, it can be said that it is a surname that can be found in all of the countries of the globe. Just as there are nations in which undoubtedly the thickness of men and women using the surname Clifton is greater than in other countries.

The map of this Clifton surname

View Clifton surname map

The possibility of examining on a globe map about which nations hold a greater number of Clifton on earth, helps us plenty. By putting ourselves on the map, for a tangible country, we are able to begin to see the tangible number of people because of the surname Clifton, to acquire this way the particular information of all Clifton that you could presently find in that country. All this also assists us to know not just in which the surname Clifton comes from, but also in excatly what way the individuals who're initially the main family that bears the surname Clifton have moved and moved. Just as, you can see by which places they've settled and grown up, which explains why if Clifton is our surname, it appears interesting to which other nations associated with the globe it will be possible any particular one of our ancestors once moved to.

Nations with additional Clifton worldwide

  1. United States United States (34162)
  2. England England (8039)
  3. Australia Australia (3615)
  4. Canada Canada (893)
  5. South Africa South Africa (734)
  6. New Zealand New Zealand (553)
  7. Wales Wales (237)
  8. Kenya Kenya (169)
  9. Malawi Malawi (157)
  10. Scotland Scotland (147)
  11. Ireland Ireland (110)
  12. Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (65)
  13. India India (62)
  14. Argentina Argentina (51)
  15. Netherlands Netherlands (42)
  16. Nothern Ireland Nothern Ireland (41)
  17. Jamaica Jamaica (36)
  18. Spain Spain (35)
  19. Singapore Singapore (32)
  20. Suriname Suriname (28)
  21. Portugal Portugal (28)
  22. Guyana Guyana (26)
  23. Falkland Islands Falkland Islands (25)
  24. British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands (25)
  25. Venezuela Venezuela (24)
  26. Pakistan Pakistan (23)
  27. Solomon Islands Solomon Islands (23)
  28. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (22)
  29. Israel Israel (21)
  30. Saint Lucia Saint Lucia (19)
  31. Malta Malta (18)
  32. France France (17)
  33. Latvia Latvia (17)
  34. Panama Panama (14)
  35. Philippines Philippines (13)
  36. Cyprus Cyprus (13)
  37. Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda (12)
  38. Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis (11)
  39. Belgium Belgium (11)
  40. United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates (10)
  41. Norway Norway (10)
  42. Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (10)
  43. Liberia Liberia (9)
  44. Germany Germany (8)
  45. Mexico Mexico (8)
  46. Brazil Brazil (8)
  47. Malaysia Malaysia (7)
  48. Isle of Man Isle of Man (7)
  49. Russia Russia (7)
  50. Anguilla Anguilla (6)
  51. Switzerland Switzerland (6)
  52. China China (6)
  53. Czech Republic Czech Republic (5)
  54. Georgia Georgia (5)
  55. Indonesia Indonesia (5)
  56. Bermuda Bermuda (5)
  57. Kuwait Kuwait (4)
  58. Mozambique Mozambique (4)
  59. Bangladesh Bangladesh (4)
  60. Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (4)
  61. Sweden Sweden (3)
  62. Ukraine Ukraine (3)
  63. Jersey Jersey (3)
  64. Japan Japan (3)
  65. South Korea South Korea (2)
  66. Cayman Islands Cayman Islands (2)
  67. Thailand Thailand (2)
  68. Luxembourg Luxembourg (2)
  69. Uganda Uganda (2)
  70. Barbados Barbados (2)
  71. Hungary Hungary (2)
  72. Peru Peru (2)
  73. Bahamas Bahamas (2)
  74. Belize Belize (2)
  75. Cameroon Cameroon (2)
  76. Colombia Colombia (2)
  77. Seychelles Seychelles (1)
  78. Denmark Denmark (1)
  79. Dominica Dominica (1)
  80. Kazakhstan Kazakhstan (1)
  81. Syria Syria (1)
  82. Dominican Republic Dominican Republic (1)
  83. Swaziland Swaziland (1)
  84. Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (1)
  85. Taiwan Taiwan (1)
  86. Macedonia Macedonia (1)
  87. Uruguay Uruguay (1)
  88. Grenada Grenada (1)
  89. American Samoa American Samoa (1)
  90. Uzbekistan Uzbekistan (1)
  91. Austria Austria (1)
  92. Gibraltar Gibraltar (1)
  93. Greece Greece (1)
  94. Nigeria Nigeria (1)
  95. Guatemala Guatemala (1)
  96. U.S. Virgin Islands U.S. Virgin Islands (1)
  97. Haiti Haiti (1)
  98. Vietnam Vietnam (1)
  99. Bulgaria Bulgaria (1)
  100. Oman Oman (1)
  101. Iceland Iceland (1)
  102. Italy Italy (1)
  103. Poland Poland (1)
  104. Cook Islands Cook Islands (1)
  105. Chile Chile (1)
  106. Qatar Qatar (1)
  107. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (1)
  108. Cambodia Cambodia (1)