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.

Cliffe, formerly Long Cliff

Major Settlement in the Parish of Hemingbrough

Historical Forms

  • Clive 1086 DB
  • Clif(f), Clyf(f) 1195 Ch 1335 Cur 1200 NCWills 1542
  • Clif(f) juxta Hemmyngburgh 1314 Dunelm

Etymology

v. clif . There is no steep declivity to which the name might refer; clif is, therefore, probably used of the bank of the river Ouse which formerly passed below the village but which is now diverted to the southwest side of Newhay. The same use of clif is suggested for Rawcliff, PN NRY 15, also on the Ouse.