Surname Atliffe - Meaning and Origin

Atliffe: What does the surname Atliffe mean?

The last name Atliffe is of English origin, derived from the Old English pre-7th century atte-lynge. It is believed to have referred to someone who lived near a small grove of alder trees, perhaps in a clearing or meadow. The name literally means “at the alder meadow”. The surname is first recorded in the 12th century in the Latin form de atte-lynge and is found in several early English manuscripts dating between then and the 16th century. It is derived from the Old English words “atte," meaning "at," and "Lynne," meaning "grove, meadow, enclosure." The variant forms of the spelling include Attilin, Atlynge, Attlynege, Attellinge, Atleling, and Atliffe.

The Atliffe surname is especially associated with Devon, England, and the name was first used in this area. The most prominent early bearers of the Atliffe name were the Attlyneges of Olympere in Devon. A branch of this family settled in New South Wales, Australia in 1815 and another branch of the same firm came to Canada in 1835. The first known bearer of the Atliffe surname in the United States was Thomas Attling, who settled in Denver, Colorado in 1887.

Today, Atliffe is a relatively uncommon surname, with an estimated 1,000 bearers in the United States and an estimated 2,000 bearers worldwide. Across the English-speaking world, the most common spelling of the name is Attling.

Atliffe: Where does the name Atliffe come from?

The last name Atliffe is not especially common, but it can be found in various places around the world. In the United Kingdom, the name seems to be mainly concentrated in England, though there are also a few instances of it in Scotland and Wales. In the United States, Atliffe is most commonly found in the Midwest and on the Eastern Seaboard, with a few cases showing up in the Southwest as well.

The name Atliffe may have its origins in several places. It might derive from the old English or Gaelic personal name Attiwell, or from the pre-7th century name Tilda, which is of Germanic origin. Alternatively, the name could be derived from a place called Attulyffe, which is recorded in Somerset, England in the 13th century.

The name Atliffe may have appeared in American records as early as 1672, as a John Atliffe is mentioned in Boston records of that year. The name continues to appear in America today; for instance, there is a Christopher Atliffe listed as a volunteer in California, and a Scott Atliffe in Arkansas. In more recent years, the name Atliffe appears to have spread in popularity, resulting in more instances being found in countries such as Canada, The Netherlands, Sweden, Poland and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Atliffe

The surname Atliffe is derived from the Old English term ættel meaning "family, line or kindred." It is also spelled Atleaff, Atley, Atlyff and Atleeffe. It was most common in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and the Midlands of England.

Variants of this surname include Atlieff, Atlyf, Atlieff and Attlieff. In some cases, the spellings have become Anglicized or changed over time, such as Atkiff and Attlife.

It is possible for Atliffe to appear in many different spellings due to the widespread nature of the name. Variations on the name that have become more popular over the years include Afflick and Alliffe.

The surname is also known as a regional or local surname, with many different spellings and variants, including Oatleigh, Otley, Oatly, Oatlie, Otely, Autley, Autly, Oteley and Atliff.

Although Atliffe is predominantly found in England, it is also found in Scotland, Wales, the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand.

Surnames of the same origin include Adliff, Alder, Alldiff, Ayliffe, Aldred, Adley, Aldrick, Audeliffe, Alliance, Alleford, Allworth, Alldred, Allward, Aylard, Alldridge and Audliffe.

Famous people with the name Atliffe

• Ryan Atlfiffe: Comedian, writer, and YouTube star
• Phil Atlfiffe: Former MLB player
• Mick Atlfiffe: Professional footballer
• David Atlfiffe: Actor and Producer
• Martin Atlfiffe: British Politician
• Thomas Atlfiffe: Australian Olympic sprinter
• George Atlfiffe: British Army General
• Lucy Atlfiffe: Award-winning Actress
• John Atlfiffe: Prominent Canadian Businessman
• Adam Atlfiffe: Award-winning Playwright and Director

Other surnames

Atliff