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.

Clifton

Major Settlement in the Parish of Dewsbury

Historical Forms

  • Clifton(e), Clyfton(e) 1086 DB e.13 Arm 13 YDxii,230 1235 DodsN 1235 FF 1297 WCR 1624 FF
  • Clifton juxta Hertesheved 1329 Arm
  • Clifton super Calder, Clifton (up)on Calder, Clifton (up)on Caldyr 1408 Arm 1526 FF 1581 WillY
  • Clifton on Kelder 1608 FF

Etymology

'Farmstead on the steep bank', v. clif , tūn , and for the affix R. Calder in RNs. The cliff is referred to in Clif f.n. (infra ).