Find out how popular the last name Clift is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Clift.

Clift, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Clift surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Clift in America

Clift is the 7789th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clift surname appeared 4,256 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Clift.

We can also compare 2010 data for Clift to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Clift

The surname Clift is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "clif," meaning a steep rock, cliff, or slope. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify individuals who lived near or worked in areas with such geographical features.

During the 11th century, the name Clift appeared in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This early reference provides evidence of the surname's existence and usage in Anglo-Norman England.

In the 13th century, the name Clift was found in various spellings, such as Clyft, Clyffe, and Clyve, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during the Middle Ages. These variations often stemmed from regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the names.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Clift dates back to 1273, when a John Clyft was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire. This document was a census-like survey conducted by King Edward I to assess the wealth and landholdings of his subjects.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Clift. One such figure was Sir Robert Clift (1592-1658), an English politician and landowner who served as a member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I.

Another prominent bearer of the name was William Clift (1775-1849), an English anatomist and curator at the Hunterian Museum in London. He made significant contributions to the study of comparative anatomy and paleontology.

In the literary world, the name is associated with the acclaimed American actor Montgomery Clift (1920-1966), whose performances in films like "A Place in the Sun" and "From Here to Eternity" earned him critical acclaim.

The surname Clift has also been carried by individuals from various fields, such as John Clift (1761-1840), an English painter known for his landscapes and portraits, and Edward Clift (1923-1986), a British film director and screenwriter best known for his work on the film "A Clockwork Orange."

While the surname Clift may have originated from humble beginnings, referring to those who lived near cliffs or steep slopes, it has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions to various aspects of society throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clift

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Clift.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Clift was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Clift has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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