Clifton first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Clifton has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Clifton

From an Old English place name meaning "cliff settlement or town".

Popularity of Clifton by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Clifton is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Clifton being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 105 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Clifton.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 105 0
2022 78 0
2021 91 0
2020 112 0
2019 103 0
2018 102 0
2017 110 0
2016 90 0
2015 112 0
2014 119 0
2013 110 0
2012 130 0
2011 112 0
2010 107 0
2009 132 0
2008 131 0
2007 154 0
2006 146 0
2005 156 0
2004 159 0
2003 173 0
2002 163 0
2001 201 0
2000 232 0
1999 215 0
1998 240 0
1997 221 0
1996 232 0
1995 249 0
1994 267 0
1993 311 0
1992 355 0
1991 411 0
1990 440 0
1989 506 0
1988 517 8
1987 552 5
1986 609 0
1985 643 8
1984 644 6
1983 609 6
1982 718 0
1981 790 6
1980 805 0
1979 782 11
1978 863 7
1977 828 11
1976 871 11
1975 1,215 10
1974 752 10

The history of the first name Clifton

The name Clifton has its origins in Old English, derived from the elements "clif" meaning cliff or slope, and "tun" meaning an enclosed settlement or town. It emerged as a place name during the Anglo-Saxon period in England, referring to settlements established near cliffs or hilly terrain.

The earliest recorded use of Clifton as a personal name dates back to the late 12th century, when it began to appear in various records and historical documents. It was initially prevalent in regions of England where settlements bearing the name Clifton existed, such as Clifton in Bedfordshire, Clifton in Derbyshire, and Clifton in Bristol.

One of the earliest notable bearers of the name Clifton was Sir Gervase Clifton (c. 1330 - 1391), an English knight and landowner from Nottinghamshire. Another early figure was Sir John Clifton (c. 1450 - 1512), who served as the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire during the reign of Henry VII.

In the realm of literature, the name Clifton appears in the works of Shakespeare. In the play "Henry VI, Part 2," there is a character named Sir John Clifton, who is a supporter of the House of York during the Wars of the Roses.

During the 17th century, one of the most prominent individuals named Clifton was Sir Gervase Clifton (1588 - 1666), an English politician and baronet who served as the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. He was a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War.

Another notable figure was William Clifton (1663 - 1737), an English philosopher and mathematician who made contributions to the development of calculus and is known for his work on the binomial theorem.

Throughout history, the name Clifton has been borne by various individuals from different walks of life, including politicians, soldiers, scholars, and artists. Its enduring presence across centuries reflects its deep-rooted origins in the landscape and settlements of medieval England.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Clifton was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Clifton, please contact us.

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"Clifton first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/clifton-meaning-and-history/.

"Clifton first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/clifton-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Clifton first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/clifton-meaning-and-history/.

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