English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Cliff

Early-attested site in the Parish of Kingsbury

Historical Forms

  • Cliva 1166 P
  • Cliffe 1201 Cur 1394 ADv
  • Cliue 1338 FF
  • atte Cliff 1290 Cl

Etymology

Cliff is Cliva 1166 P, Cliffe 1201 Cur, 1394 AD v, Cliue 1338FF and was the home of Henry atte Cliff (1290 Cl), v. clif . The rise is very slight and it is clear that clif is used here as elsewhere of a slight slope.